Ucla Opens Its Ncaa Tournament Title Bid With Dominant Win Over California Baptist

The adage goes, it doesn’t person to beryllium pretty. But for nan UCLA women’s hoops team, that’s not nan philosophy. Coach Cori Close preaches thriving, not surviving, and that’s been evident successful nan Bruins’ lopsided triumph separator each season.

That’s why starring by 10 points astatine halftime against a No. 16 seed was apt alarming. So overmuch truthful that UCLA locked successful for a 31-4 3rd 4th successful 1 of its astir ascendant periods each play en way to a first-round NCAA tourney win.

UCLA (32-1) took down California Baptist 96-43 astatine Pauley Pavilion, advancing to Monday’s second-round title against No. 8 seed Oklahoma State (24-9) for a spot successful nan Sweet 16.

Lauren Betts earned a double-double pinch 22 points pinch 10 rebounds, while her sister, Sienna Betts, had her first profession double-double pinch 10 points and 11 rebounds.

UCLA halfway Lauren Betts drives against California Baptist guardant Grace Schmidt successful nan first half Saturday.

(Jessie Alcheh / Associated Press)

It was nan Bruins’ 26th consecutive win, pinch nan team’s astir caller nonaccomplishment successful November against chap No. 1 seed Texas.

California Baptist (23-11) had nan eighth-worst NET standing of immoderate NCAA tourney team, but nan Lancers person a mates of areas wherever they excel. It was not capable to hit a No. 1 seed that conscionable needed immoderate clip to shingle disconnected nan rust, but it was capable to fend disconnected a much lopsided people different No. 16 seeds endured crossed nan nation.

A No. 16 seed has not upset a No. 1 seed successful nan women’s NCAA tourney since 1998.

The Bruins took nan lead pinch 3:51 near successful nan first 4th arsenic a portion of a 10-0 tally aft starting nan crippled 1 for five. While nan Lancers clawed backmost to wrong 5 points, nan spread only widened from there.

UCLA’s size overwhelmed California Baptist, whose tallest subordinate is 6-foot-3 Emma Johansson. Johansson, who entered Saturday 2nd successful nan state pinch 2.86 blocks per game, picked up conscionable 1 artifact and 1 rebound pinch 4 fouls. The Bruins’ 62-21 rebounding advantage came from nan important tallness spread crossed each positions. UCLA besides nabbed a season-high 21 violative boards.

The Bruins vanished pinch 54 points successful nan overgarment to nan Lancers’ 14, on pinch 30 second-chance points compared to California Baptist’s eight.

The Lancers trust heavy connected their three-point shot, pinch nan eighth-most successful nan NCAA astatine 28.3 attempts per game. They went six for 30 (20%) from heavy connected Saturday, which kept nan shortage from getting retired of manus early, but nan Lancers couldn’t support their early beardown shooting pace.

UCLA started nan 3rd 4th connected a 15-0 run. The Lancers didn’t people until nan 7:20 people successful nan 3rd quarter. The Bruins changeable 10 of 16 from nan section and their 31 points were tied for their 2nd astir successful a 4th this season.

Chance Bucher led nan Lancers pinch 11 points, but California Baptist’s 25% from nan section was nan lowest field-goal percent UCLA has allowed each year.

Now UCLA’s attraction shifts to its adjacent matchup.

The Bruins are 1-1 all-time against Oklahoma State, which hit No. 9 seed Princeton 82-68 earlier Saturday astatine Pauley Pavilion. Tipoff for UCLA’s crippled Monday is group for 7 p.m.