Mar 30, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; LSU Woman Tigers ahead Sa’Myah Smith (5) reaches in in opposition to UCLA Bruins guard Gabriela Jaquez (11) in the course of the second half of a Elite 8 NCAA Event basketball recreation at Spokane Area. Necessary Credit score: James Snook-Imagn Photographs
Gabriela Jaquez delivered on a key sequence that helped No. 1 seed UCLA maintain off third-seeded LSU and ship the Bruins to their first-ever Closing 4 with a 72-65 determination on Sunday within the Spokane Area 1 closing.
UCLA (34-2) led all through the second half and by as many 14 factors, however LSU went on repeated runs that had the Tigers inside hanging distance down the stretch. An 8-0 Tigers run late within the fourth quarter made the rating 56-53 with 3:24 remaining.
Lauren Betts, who confronted suffocating double- and triple-teams all through her 17-point, seven-rebound efficiency, cut up a pair of free throws to push the Bruins lead again to 4. Then, after LSU failed to attain on the following possession, Jaquez bought to the foul line to sink a pair of foul photographs.
On the opposite finish, Kailyn Gilbert missed a shot and Jaquez snagged a deflection for the rebound. Jaquez then fed Betts within the low put up from the wing, relocated to the nook, regained the ball from Betts and fired in a 3-pointer.
Jaquez’s shot prolonged the UCLA result in an insurmountable nine-point margin and put an exclamation level on her team-high 18-point, eight-rebound efficiency.
LSU (31-6) bought a game-high 28 factors from Flau’jae Johnson. Aneesah Morrow added 15 factors, however the Bruins restricted the nation’s main rebounder to seven boards earlier than Morrow fouled out.
Morrow additionally got here out for a stretch within the third quarter after a collision with teammate Sa’Myah Smith gave Morrow a damaged nostril. For her half, Smith completed with 10 rebounds and helped restrict UCLA’s Betts to 7-of-14 capturing from the ground.
Betts did her half for the Bruins defensively with six blocked photographs. UCLA additionally bought three steals from Jaquez.
The Bruins went simply 21-of-55 on field-goal makes an attempt. Nevertheless, with 10-of-24 coming from 3-point vary — led by Timea Gardiner’s 5-of-8 for 15 factors off the bench — UCLA withstood LSU’s 25-of-67 capturing for the sport.
–Discipline Degree Media
