By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The UCLA women’s basketball team got off to a thunderous start in this year’s NCAA Tournament, delivering convincing wins over its first two opponents.
The top-seeded Bruins opened with a 53-point blowout victory over Cal Baptist—marking the largest postseason win in program history. UCLA’s dominant performance overwhelmed a spirited Cal Baptist squad that entered the tournament riding the momentum of a thrilling conference championship run.
UCLA followed that statement win with an 87-68 victory over Oklahoma State, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the fourth consecutive year.
Betts Leads the Charge
Center Lauren Betts delivered a standout performance, scoring a career-high 35 points on 15-of-19 shooting while grabbing nine rebounds. The Bruins (33-1) built a commanding lead early, going up by 25 points in the first half at Pauley Pavilion.
“I was just working really hard on getting seals,” Betts said. “My teammates did a really great job finding me. Some of those passes were absolutely insane.”
Although Oklahoma State edged UCLA 42-41 in the second half, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
“They have a team that I believe is capable of winning it all,” said Cowgirls head coach Jacie Hoyt.
Strong Start Sets the Tone
The Bruins set the tone from the opening tip, scoring the first nine points of the game and racing to a 21-6 lead by the end of the first quarter. Oklahoma State struggled early, committing six turnovers and missing 14 of its first 16 shots.
The Cowgirls, led by Achol Akot’s 23 points, attempted to rally in the third quarter. Jadyn Wooten contributed 18 points and six assists, helping spark a 9-0 run that cut UCLA’s lead to 52-39.
“People are going to go on runs,” Betts said, “but we just have to lock in and focus on what we need to do.”
UCLA responded behind Betts, who scored 10 of the team’s final 12 points in the third quarter to extend the lead to 64-47 heading into the fourth. She added another 10 points in the final period as the home crowd rose to its feet in the closing moments.
Balanced Effort, Bigger Goals Ahead
Gianna Kneepkens added 15 points, while Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez chipped in 10 points each, highlighting the balanced attack that has powered UCLA throughout the season.
With their sights set on a return to the Final Four, the Bruins will next face fourth-seeded Minnesota (24-10) in a Big Ten matchup Friday in Sacramento.