But the top-seeded Bruins settled down after halftime to win 70-58 in the Sacramento Regional Final 2. With the win, UCLA advances to the Final Four. He joins defending champion UConn, which beat Notre Dame earlier Sunday.
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Duke takes early control for rare UCLA test
UCLA entered the tournament and Sunday’s game as a heavy favorite to reach the Final Four. The Bruins carried a 34-1 record into Sunday with their only loss this season coming in November against Texas. Since then, the Bruins overcame a tough Big Ten field to earn the top seed and enter the NCAA Tournament as the leading challenger to UConn’s throne.
But Duke, fresh off a thriller to topple second-seeded LSU, entered Sunday’s game with confidence. And the Blue Devils forced the Bruins to abandon their game for the first 20 minutes.
A UCLA team that averaged 12.4 turnovers per game committed 12 in the first half. The Bruins went 0-for-4-for-3 in the first half and Duke challenged a normally rebound-dominant UCLA team on the boards.
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Duke took a 39-31 lead into halftime, and UCLA trailed at halftime for the second time this season. The first was their 76-65 loss to Texas on November 26.
Bruins regroup and take command after halftime
But after halftime a different Bruins team came out. UCLA scored seven points on its first three possessions, including its first three of the game from Gabriela Jaquez to help relieve congestion in the paint.
By the end of the third quarter, UCLA had gone on a 16-6 run and had taken a 47-45 lead, its first since the first minute of the game. The Bruins were aggressive on offense and effective on defense. They forced repeated turnovers from the Blue Devils and eventually went on a 9-0 run, holding Duke scoreless for a span of nearly six minutes.
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Duke was 3 of 17 from the field in the third quarter as UCLA took control with a 20-8 lead in the fourth. UCLA finished the game with a 39-19 lead in the second half.
Duke ultimately had no internal answer for All-America center Lauren Betts. Betts dominated the post, adding 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocks while shooting 9 of 14 from the field.
The Bruins shot 50% from the field while holding Duke to 39% shooting and a 1-of-13 effort from 3. They built a 38-26 advantage on the boards to overcome 18 turnovers. Angela Dugalic scored 15 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.
The game was a rare test for UCLA, which secured 32 of its previous 34 wins by double figures and entered Sunday on a 28-game winning streak. Thrived under late pressure while keeping Duke at bay in the fourth quarter.
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The Bruins now head to the Final Four with a possible matchup against the only team to beat them. UCLA will face the winner of Monday’s game between No. 1 seed Texas and No. 2 Michigan.
UConn will face the winner between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 3 TCU. If South Carolina advances, the Huskies and Gamecocks will meet in the semifinals in a matchup between three of the last four national champions.