Latest news with #pre-NCAA
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Strong, Fudd help UConn blow out UCLA 85-51 in Final Four as Bueckers moves 1 win from elusive title
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Sarah Strong and Azzi Fudd didn't even need much help from superstar Paige Bueckers to propel UConn into the national title game, leading the Huskies to a remarkably easy 85-51 victory over UCLA on Friday night in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament. Strong finished with 22 points and Fudd scored all of her 19 points in the first half for the second-seeded Huskies, who are one win away from their 12th national championship and first since the team won four straight from 2013-16, led by Breanna Stewart. The eight-year title drought is the longest for the Huskies since they won their first in 1995. UConn will face defending champion South Carolina on Sunday for the title after the Gamecocks beat Texas 74-57 earlier Friday night. It's a rematch of the 2022 championship game, which the Gamecocks won 64-49. The teams met in February and UConn shocked South Carolina with a 29-point road victory. 'At this point, anything you did prior to the season means nothing. The record is 0-0 and teams are tying to go 1-0 in the final game,' Bueckers said. 'So keep up the defensive intensity like we did tonight, they're a really good team. They get out in transition, they've got interior play and great guard play, so we'll have our hands full.' Bueckers, the likely top pick in the WNBA draft, finished with 16 points after topping 30 in each of the previous three games for the Huskies (36-3). All-America center Lauren Betts scored 26 points for top overall seed UCLA (34-3). UConn got off to a hot start with Strong and Fudd leading the way. Even when shots looked off, they found their way in. Fudd, one of the best shooters in the country whose career at UConn has been interrupted by multiple injuries, banked in a 3-pointer from the top of the key, prompting Auriemma to throw his arms in the air and smile. 'It's just so much fun to watch her play with joy and be at this stage,' Bueckers said of Fudd. 'You see all the ups and downs, the bad days, the good days and to be at this spot where it's the light at the end of the tunnel and for her to perform and be at this stage, it means everything to us.' The Huskies led 23-13 at the end of the first quarter. They continued the onslaught behind Fudd to open a 42-22 advantage at the break. Bueckers had the play of the half with a touch pass in the air to Kaitlyn Chen for a layup late in the second quarter. UCLA never threated in the second half as the 6-foot-7 Betts had little help. UConn ended up breaking its own record for margin of victory in the Final Four or national title game — the Huskies won the 2013 championship by 33 points over Louisville. UCLA's run ends The Bruins fell short in their first appearance in the NCAA Final Four. UCLA won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women's basketball. The Bruins were looking to become the first team from the Big Ten, a conference they joined this season, to win a championship since Purdue did it in 1999. UCLA cruised through its best regular season, earning the No. 1 ranking in the AP Top 25 for the first time and holding the spot for 14 weeks. The Bruins only lost twice this year before Friday, both to JuJu Watkins and USC. UCLA got a measure of revenge by beating USC to win the Big Ten Tournament in its first year in the league after the dismantling of the Pac-12. The Bruins set a program record for wins in a season and won 23 consecutive games, including 22 in a row by double digits. ___ AP March Madness bracket: and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. Doug Feinberg, The Associated Press
NBC Sports
01-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Betting favorite UConn joins 3 top seeds in South Carolina, UCLA and Texas in women's Final Four
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The women's Final Four is full of star players, top seeds and historic programs. There will be no Cinderellas in Tampa, Florida, with No. 1 seeds South Carolina, UCLA and Texas in the national semifinals. They are joined by the betting favorite to win it all, second-seeded UConn, which has been playing the best of any team over the past month and knocked off a top-seeded Southern California team that was missing its best player. Coach Dawn Staley and the defending champion Gamecocks are making their fifth straight trip to the Final Four and are two victories away from becoming the first to repeat since UConn won four straight from 2013-16. South Carolina will face Southeastern Conference foe Texas for the fourth time this season in one semifinal. UConn will play UCLA in the other. The Huskies are back in the Final Four for the second straight year and and a record 24th time overall, and star Paige Bueckers is looking to bring coach Geno Auriemma his 12th title and first since that four-peat. Top overall seed UCLA is playing in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Bruins won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women's basketball, led by Ann Meyers Drysdale, and returned to the Final Four the next year. That success hadn't carried over to the NCAA before this season. No program has been to the Final Four more than Auriemma's Huskies, who had a record run of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances snapped in 2023. Their 11 national titles are the most of any team. Here's a look at the matchups: South Carolina vs. Texas The teams split two regular-season meetings, winning on their home courts. The Gamecocks took the rubber match, winning the SEC Tournament title by 17 points. The Gamecocks have won three titles in the past eight years, but this year's squad has been tested in the postseason. They won both games in the Birmingham Regional by four points, topping Maryland and Duke. In their victories over Texas this season, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns under 30% shooting. In South Carolina's loss, Texas shot 44%. 'Ton of experiences to draw from and learn from,' Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. 'Got to learn and be different. That's the thing about their team, Dawn's teams. You know you'll get the same from them that you try to impart on others too. They are going to be tough, aggressive, physical. If you don't bring an edge with you at the fight it won't be much fun.' There's plenty of star power on both teams with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker leading Texas while Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley are the top players for the Gamecocks. Texas is in the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Schaefer became the fifth coach to take at least two teams to the Final Four, joining Marianne Stanley, Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey. C. Vivian Stringer took three schools to the national semifinals. Schaefer led Mississippi State to the championship games in 2017 and 2018. UConn vs. UCLA The Bruins have a dominant post player in 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts who has been unstoppable in the tournament. She had consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games in the second round and the Sweet 16. She played through foul trouble in the Elite Eight and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. UConn will have to figure out a way to slow her down. While Betts has been dominant, no player has been better than Bueckers, who's clearly driven to conclude her incredible college career with a national championship. She's had a bit of help with the stellar play of Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Strong, who has put together one of the best seasons for a first-year player in school history.
Associated Press
01-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Betting favorite UConn joins 3 top seeds in South Carolina, UCLA and Texas in women's Final Four
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — The women's Final Four is full of star players, top seeds and historic programs. There will be no Cinderellas in Tampa, Florida, this week with No. 1 seeds South Carolina, UCLA and Texas in the national semifinals. They are joined by the betting favorite to win it all, second-seeded UConn, which has been playing the best of any team over the past month and knocked off a top-seeded Southern California team that was missing its best player. Coach Dawn Staley and the defending champion Gamecocks are making their fifth straight trip to the Final Four and are two victories away from becoming the first to repeat since UConn won four straight from 2013-16. South Carolina will face Southeastern Conference foe Texas for the fourth time this season in one semifinal Friday night. UConn will play UCLA in the other. The Huskies are back in the Final Four for the second straight year and and a record 24th time overall, and star Paige Bueckers is looking to bring coach Geno Auriemma his 12th title and first since that four-peat. Top overall seed UCLA is playing in the Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament for the first time. The Bruins won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women's basketball, led by Ann Meyers Drysdale, and returned to the Final Four the next year. That success hadn't carried over to the NCAA before this season. No program has been to the Final Four more than Auriemma's Huskies, who had a record run of 14 consecutive Final Four appearances snapped in 2023. Their 11 national titles are the most of any team. Here's a look at the matchups: South Carolina vs. Texas The teams split two regular-season meetings, winning on their home courts. The Gamecocks took the rubber match, winning the SEC Tournament title by 17 points. The Gamecocks have won three titles in the past eight years, but this year's squad has been tested in the postseason. They won both games in the Birmingham Regional by four points, topping Maryland and Duke. In their victories over Texas this season, the Gamecocks held the Longhorns under 30% shooting. In South Carolina's loss, Texas shot 44%. 'Ton of experiences to draw from and learn from,' Texas coach Vic Schaefer said. 'Got to learn and be different. That's the thing about their team, Dawn's teams. You know you'll get the same from them that you try to impart on others too. They are going to be tough, aggressive, physical. If you don't bring an edge with you at the fight it won't be much fun.' There's plenty of star power on both teams with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker leading Texas while Joyce Edwards, Chloe Kitts and MiLaysia Fulwiley are the top players for the Gamecocks. Texas is in the Final Four for the first time since 2003. Schaefer became the fifth coach to take at least two teams to the Final Four, joining Marianne Stanley, Gary Blair and Kim Mulkey. C. Vivian Stringer took three schools to the national semifinals. Schaefer led Mississippi State to the championship games in 2017 and 2018. UConn vs. UCLA The Bruins have a dominant post player in 6-foot-7 Lauren Betts who has been unstoppable in the tournament. She had consecutive 30-point, 10-rebound games in the second round and the Sweet 16. She played through foul trouble in the Elite Eight and finished with 17 points, seven rebounds and six blocks. UConn will have to figure out a way to slow her down. While Betts has been dominant, no player has been better than Bueckers, who's clearly driven to conclude her incredible college career with a national championship. She's had a bit of help with the stellar play of Azzi Fudd and freshman Sarah Strong, who has put together one of the best seasons for a first-year player in school history.
Boston Globe
31-03-2025
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Despite foul trouble, Lauren Betts, UCLA head to women's Final Four after ousting LSU
'Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out,' Betts said during the trophy ceremony. UCLA won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women's basketball, but this was its first NCAA regional final victory in three tries. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow's nose was bloodied in a collision with teammate Sa'Myah Smith, but she checked back into her final game for the Tigers without any facial protection and finished with 15 points. Advertisement Flau'Jae Johnson scored 28 points to lead third-seeded LSU (31-6), which won the national title two years ago under coach Kim Mulkey but has been eliminated in the last two Elite Eights. Related : The Tigers closed within 46-41 to start the fourth quarter. Betts' layup extended the Bruins' lead to 56-45 with 6:54 to go. Johnson's layup got the Tigers within 56-52 with 3:24 left, spurring an 'LSU! LSU!' chant from the crowd. The Tigers couldn't get closer, and Jaquez made a 3-pointer with 1:30 left that all but sealed the Bruins' win over the team that eliminated them from last year's Sweet 16. 'We talk about if Lauren kicks it out, you've got to be a ready shooter,' said Jaquez, whose older brother Jaime Jaquez Jr. plays for the Miami Heat after starring at UCLA. 'I've just got to stay ready at all times. And I knew that was the right shot I needed to take and I have confidence in myself when shooting. I put in the work.' Betts — a matchup nightmare for any team with her towering stature and skill in the post — was coming off a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in the Sweet 16 and a 30-point, 14-rebound effort in the second round. She's one of just three players to have multiple games with at least 30 points and 10 boards in the tournament in the last 25 seasons. Advertisement 'Betts did not beat us,' Mulkey said. 'We guarded her as tough as we could. We did not take advantage of her being off the floor in the second quarter, and we allowed perimeter 3s and other people to step up.'
CBS News
30-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Lauren Betts and UCLA reach first Final Four of women's NCAA Tournament, beating LSU 72-65
Lauren Betts had 17 points and seven rebounds despite spending the entire second quarter on the bench, and top overall seed UCLA reached its first Final Four of the women's NCAA Tournament with a 72-65 victory over LSU on Sunday. The 6-foot-7 Betts added six blocks for the Bruins (34-2), who will face the winner of Monday's game between Southern California and UConn. The Final Four is Friday night in Tampa, Florida. Gabriela Jaquez had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Bruins and Timea Gardiner finished with 15 points, helping to pick up the slack went Betts went to the bench after committing two first-quarter fouls. "Credit to my teammates for holding it down while I was out," Betts said during the trophy ceremony. UCLA won a national title in 1978 in the pre-NCAA era of women's basketball, but this was its first NCAA regional final victory in three tries. LSU senior forward Aneesah Morrow's nose was bloodied in a collision with teammate Sa'Myah Smith, but she checked back into her final game for the Tigers without any facial protection and finished with 15 points. Flau'Jae Johnson scored 28 points to lead third-seeded LSU (31-6), which won the national title two years ago under coach Kim Mulkey but has now been eliminated in the last two Elite Eights. The Tigers closed within 46-41 to start the fourth quarter. Betts' layup extended the Bruins' lead to 56-45 with 6:54 to go. Johnson's layup got the Tigers within 56-52 with 3:24 left, spurring an "LSU! LSU!" chant from the crowd. But the Tigers couldn't get closer, and Jaquez made a 3-pointer with 1:30 left that all but sealed the Bruins' win over the team that eliminated them from last year's Sweet 16. Betts — a matchup nightmare for any team with her towering stature and skill in the post — was coming off a 31-point, 10-rebound performance in the Sweet 16 and a 30-point, 14-rebound effort in the second round. She's one of just three players to have multiple games with at least 30 points and 10 boards in the tournament in the last 25 seasons. The Bruins jumped out early, but the Tigers had an 13-9 edge going into the second quarter. The Bruins went on a 6-0 run, capped by Gardiner's 3-pointer, to take a 23-17 lead. The Bruins held their own without Betts, heading into halftime up 31-25. Gardiner had nine points in the opening half. Betts started the second half, extending the Bruins' lead with a layup. Londynn Jones made it 36-25 with a 3-pointer. UCLA pushed its lead 14 points before an 8-1 LSU run that closed the gap to 44-37. At one point, UCLA coach Cori Close yelled at her team, "Execute!" Morrow was hurt with 1:22 left in the third quarter. She was helped off the court with a towel to her face and went to the locker room, but returned to start the fourth. ESPN reported during the game that Morrow's nose was broken, but she said afterward that it wasn't.
