In a stunning reversal, UCLA’s defensive adjustments and Lauren Betts’ interior dominance in the second half propelled the Bruins past Duke and into a second straight Final Four, cementing their status as national title favorites.
The UCLA Bruins, the top seed in the Sacramento Region, authored a classic tournament comeback on Sunday, erasing an eight-point halftime hole to defeat No. 3 seed Duke 70-58 and secure their second consecutive trip to the national semifinals. This victory marks a monumental achievement for a program that had never reached the Final Four before last season’s breakthrough run.
The first half belonged to Duke. The Blue Devils’ aggressive defense forced UCLA into 12 turnovers, which they converted into 16 points. Duke’s offense, led by Tania Mair’s hot start, built a lead that peaked at 10 points late in the half. For a Bruins team that had lost only once all season, this was an unfamiliar and uncomfortable position.
The intermission served as a critical reset. What emerged from the locker room was a completely different team. The catalyst was sophomore forward Gabriela Jaquez, who scored UCLA’s first five points out of the break to immediately shift momentum. Her energy was infectious, sparking a Bruins offense that had been stagnant.
The turning point came via a sequence from guard Gianna Kneepkens. She hit a three-pointer, then moments later drove for a layup while drawing a foul, completing a five-point swing that bookended a fast-break score from Charlisse Leger-Walker. This flurry gave UCLA the lead for good late in the third quarter and was part of a devastating 18-6 run to open the second half.
The story of the second half was twofold: defensive intensity and interior scoring. The Bruins slashed their turnovers to just six after halftime. More importantly, they owned the paint, outscoring Duke 54-14 in the interior. Center Lauren Betts was the embodiment of this physical dominance. She scored 15 of her game-high 23 points and grabbed eight of her game-high 10 rebounds in the final two quarters, a two-way performance that took over the game.
Forward Angela Dugalic provided crucial support, adding 15 points with relentless activity on the offensive glass, where she secured four of her six rebounds. Her four assists also helped facilitate the balanced attack, complementing Leger-Walker’s team-high six dimes.
For Duke, the offensive well ran dry after a strong start. Star guard Tania Mair, who had poured in 21 points against LSU in the Sweet 16, was held to just 3-of-10 shooting in the second half by UCLA’s focused defensive effort. The Blue Devils as a team managed only seven made field goals on 30 attempts (23.3%) after intermission. Riley Nelson (13 points), Delaney Thomas (12), and Toby Fournier (10) provided scoring support, but it wasn’t enough. The story of Duke’s offensive collapse was sealed by the complete disappearance of Ashlon Jackson, the hero of their win over LSU, who went 0-for-8 from the floor.
This win propels UCLA (35-1) to a Final Four in Indianapolis with a 29-game winning streak, the second-longest in the nation behind only defending champion Connecticut. The historical context is profound: this is just the second time in program history the Bruins have advanced to the national semifinals, a stark contrast to their storied past that lacked this specific achievement.
For the fanbase, this performance validates the season-long narrative. The Bruins’ blend of elite interior play, versatile guard scoring, and championship poise was on full display after their early tournament scare. The question is no longer if they can win it all, but how they will handle the pressure of being the team to beat.
Duke (27-9) sees a promising season end in the Elite Eight for the second time in three years. The future remains bright with a young core, but the inability to solve UCLA’s second-half adjustments will be the lingering “what-if” of this campaign. The development of Mair and the supporting cast will be the central focus this offseason.
The Bruins’ path to the title now runs through Indianapolis, where they will face the winner of the Midwest Region. Their ability to win a game despite a poor first half signals a championship-caliber resilience that no opponent can overlook.
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