Lauren Betts Scores Career-high 35 As Ucla Powers Past Oklahoma State And Into Sweet 16

On a time erstwhile No. 1 seeds dominated, UCLA wasn’t nan exception.

The top-seeded Bruins led wire-to-wire, beating No. 8 seed Oklahoma State 87-68 successful nan 2nd information of nan NCAA tourney connected Monday nighttime astatine Pauley Pavilion to beforehand to nan Sweet 16.

They will look No. 4 seed Minnesota connected Friday successful Sacramento.

While UCLA started overmuch amended than it did successful its opening-round game, location were still elements to nitpick. The Bruins were outscored 21-18 successful nan 3rd quarter, Oklahoma State won nan violative rebounding conflict and extracurricular of Lauren Betts — who scored a career-high 35 points while shooting 15 of 19 — nan discourtesy fell level astatine points successful nan 2nd half.

But pinch arguably nan champion station subordinate successful nan country, nan Bruins overcame each of that.

UCLA (33-1) jumped retired to an 11-2 lead while nan Cowgirls (24-10) went nan last 4:26 without scoring and changeable 0 for 8 from nan section during that span. The Bruins turned that into a 25-point lead and were up 46-26 astatine halftime.

Unlike nan first-round victory complete California Baptist connected Saturday, UCLA came retired acold to commencement nan 3rd quarter. The Bruins missed six shots successful a statement while Oklahoma State went connected a 9-0 tally to constrictive nan shortage to 13.

UCLA’s Angela Dugalic shoots complete Oklahoma State’s Achol Akot during nan first half of nan Bruins’ triumph Monday.

(Melina Pizano / Getty Images)

The Cowgirls changeable 51.4% from nan section successful nan 2nd half to enactment wrong striking region while UCLA’s discourtesy went mostly cold. But Oklahoma State’s starring scorer, Achol Akot (23 points), had 4 fouls by nan commencement of nan 4th fourth and had to walk overmuch of nan 4th connected nan bench.

Betts scored 11 consecutive UCLA points successful nan last 4 minutes of nan 3rd to put nan Bruins up by 19. In addition, she vanished nan crippled pinch 9 rebounds and 5 assists.

Gianna Kneepkens (15 points) made a mates of cardinal shots successful nan 4th fourth to thief jolt nan Bruins’ shooting, but it was still Betts’ ascendant showing that kept UCLA good ahead. Of UCLA’s 87 points, 50 came successful nan paint.

UCLA’s adjacent opponent, nan Golden Gophers (24-8), precocious connected a buzzer-beater against No. 5 seed Mississippi connected Sunday. The Bruins hit Minnesota 76-58 connected nan roadworthy during convention play earlier this season.