University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Sunday, March 29
Sacramento, Calif.
12:00 PM (PT)
UCLA
35-1,18-0Big Ten
70
vs
58
Duke
27-9,16-2ACC
1st quarter1
2nd quarter2
3rd quarter3
4th quarter4
FinalF
Duke
21
18
8
11
58
UCLA
17
14
20
19
70
Angela Dugalic and Lauren Betts
Photo by: Ross Turteltaub
No. 1-Seed UCLA Advances to Second Consecutive Final Four
March 29, 2026 | Women's Basketball
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The No.1-seed UCLA women's basketball defeated Duke, 70-58, on Sunday to advance to the NCAA Final Four for the second consecutive season. The Bruins overcame 39-31 halftime deficit and used a dominant third quarter to pull away from the Blue Devils.
Senior Lauren Betts led all scorers with 23 points. The Bruin center became UCLA's all-time leading shot blocker with her fourth rejection of the game; she finished the game with five blocks to go with 10 rebounds. Lauren Betts was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Graduate student Angela Dugalić added 15 points and Charlisse Leger-Walker dished a game-high six assists to help the Bruins book their ticket to the Final Four in Arizona. Dugalić joined the elder Betts on the Sacramento 2 All-Region Team.
Lauren Betts won the tip and UCLA pushed the pace. Jaquez got to the rim quickly off a Leger-Walker assist for the first score of the game. After a few Blue Devil buckets, Kneepkens ripped down an offensive board, dribble her way to the middle of the paint for a short jumper. Dugalić posted up and banged down low, sinking a turnaround jumper from the block to get UCLA back within five.
Duke made six of its first 10 shot attempts, leading 12-7 at the first media break.
Rice got to the rim out of the break, beating a shot clock winding down with a left-handed layup. She then found Leger-Walker on a cut after the Bruins tracked down an errant Duke pass. Lauren Betts got on the board with a pair of makes at the free throw line, then scored in the paint again on the next two trips down.
UCLA trailed by four at the quarter break, 21-17.
The Blue Devils launched their first pass of the second quarter out of bounds. The Bruins grabbed two offensive boards on their next possession, leading to a put-back off the glass by Dugalić. She shot-faked her defender and got to the basket for a layup and her fourth-consecutive point. Lauren Betts swatted her third shot of the first half – tying Monique Billings for the all-time program record – and the ball ricocheted into Rice's hands. The point guard navigated Duke's transition defense, spinning and crossing the court to get another basket at the rim.
Sienna Betts broke a near-four minute scoring drought for the Bruins by putting the ball on the floor and rolling the ball over the rim for two. The freshman scored again on the next Bruin possession after receiving a helper from her older sister.
UCLA won a challenge on an incorrect out-of-bounds call, taking a possession away from Duke with under two and half minutes to play in the first half. Lauren Betts attacked the paint for her third made basket of the day. Jaquez jumped and stretched to catch a high ball, then power-dribbled before floating the ball into the cup for two more.
The Bruins trailed 39-31 at the intermission; UCLA only trailed at halftime once this season prior to Sunday's national quarterfinal.
Jaquez started the second half the way she began the game, flying in for a layup after cutting to the basket. She then knocked down a triple to cut Duke's lead to five. The elder Betts got deep post position for another basket – the center was the first Bruin in double figures with 10. She scored again a possession later.
Leger-Walker used her strength to bump a defender down low and get a look at the rim, bringing UCLA within 1 after trailing for all but 26 seconds prior. The graduate point guard then swiped a pass and set UCLA's offense; Kneepkens navigated screens and nailed an open look at the top of the key to put UCLA up two late in the third. The crowd erupted with the graduate transfer's make.
Lauren Betts posted up again and had a defender lose sight of the ball; the center drew a foul on the shot attempt and made both attempts at the charity stripe. Dugalić capped off UCLA's third quarter with an offensive board and second-chance shot that found the bottom of the net. The Bruins outscored Duke 20-8 in the third.
UCLA headed into the final frame leading by a 51-47 margin.
Dugalic started the fourth hot. The Serbian senior national team member posted up for a score on the first possession of the quarter, then grabbed an offensive rebound and scored an and-one for three more. The graduate forward was off on her next 3-point attempt, but Lauren Betts corralled the miss and put it back up for two more.
UCLA won its second challenge of the afternoon and took advantage – Lauren Betts backed down Duke's Toby Fournier to push UCLA's lead to 10. The center scored again on the next trip down, giving her 20 points in the game.
The center blocked her fifth shot of the game and then forced a turnover on Duke's next defensive board, holding up Fournier for a jump ball. She was fouled and made one of her two free throws.
Dugalić avoided a shot clock violation for the Bruins by getting downhill and sinking a clutch layup; Rice also got an offensive rebound and hit one free throw after being fouled on the putback. Lauren Betts received a Leger-Walker pass from a sideline out-of-bounds play and scored, pushing UCLA's lead back to 10 with under a minute to play. Rice made both of her free throws after crossing half court and drawing the intentional foul.
UP NEXT: Final Four (Friday, April 3)
The Bruins will face the winner of No. 1-seed Texas vs. No. 2-seed Michigan – the Fort Worth 3 Regional final tips off Monday, March 30, at 4 p.m. (PT) – in their return to the Final Four.
Official times will be set following the conclusion of the Elite Eight games on Monday. Final Four games will be played in Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., at 4 p.m. PT and approximately 6:30 p.m. PT next Friday, April 3.
Television assignments will be announced following the conclusion of the national quarterfinals on Monday.
Senior Lauren Betts led all scorers with 23 points. The Bruin center became UCLA's all-time leading shot blocker with her fourth rejection of the game; she finished the game with five blocks to go with 10 rebounds. Lauren Betts was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Graduate student Angela Dugalić added 15 points and Charlisse Leger-Walker dished a game-high six assists to help the Bruins book their ticket to the Final Four in Arizona. Dugalić joined the elder Betts on the Sacramento 2 All-Region Team.
Lauren Betts won the tip and UCLA pushed the pace. Jaquez got to the rim quickly off a Leger-Walker assist for the first score of the game. After a few Blue Devil buckets, Kneepkens ripped down an offensive board, dribble her way to the middle of the paint for a short jumper. Dugalić posted up and banged down low, sinking a turnaround jumper from the block to get UCLA back within five.
Duke made six of its first 10 shot attempts, leading 12-7 at the first media break.
Rice got to the rim out of the break, beating a shot clock winding down with a left-handed layup. She then found Leger-Walker on a cut after the Bruins tracked down an errant Duke pass. Lauren Betts got on the board with a pair of makes at the free throw line, then scored in the paint again on the next two trips down.
.@kiki_rice0 in GO MODE ??#MarchMadness x ?? ABC / @UCLAWBB pic.twitter.com/XO4NYKSstC
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) March 29, 2026
UCLA trailed by four at the quarter break, 21-17.
The Blue Devils launched their first pass of the second quarter out of bounds. The Bruins grabbed two offensive boards on their next possession, leading to a put-back off the glass by Dugalić. She shot-faked her defender and got to the basket for a layup and her fourth-consecutive point. Lauren Betts swatted her third shot of the first half – tying Monique Billings for the all-time program record – and the ball ricocheted into Rice's hands. The point guard navigated Duke's transition defense, spinning and crossing the court to get another basket at the rim.
A record-setting block leads to beautiful Bruin offense! ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 29, 2026
??: ABC#GoBruins | @laurenbetts12 x @kiki_rice0 pic.twitter.com/PMNk5zJ4EV
Sienna Betts broke a near-four minute scoring drought for the Bruins by putting the ball on the floor and rolling the ball over the rim for two. The freshman scored again on the next Bruin possession after receiving a helper from her older sister.
UCLA won a challenge on an incorrect out-of-bounds call, taking a possession away from Duke with under two and half minutes to play in the first half. Lauren Betts attacked the paint for her third made basket of the day. Jaquez jumped and stretched to catch a high ball, then power-dribbled before floating the ball into the cup for two more.
The Bruins trailed 39-31 at the intermission; UCLA only trailed at halftime once this season prior to Sunday's national quarterfinal.
Jaquez started the second half the way she began the game, flying in for a layup after cutting to the basket. She then knocked down a triple to cut Duke's lead to five. The elder Betts got deep post position for another basket – the center was the first Bruin in double figures with 10. She scored again a possession later.
Leger-Walker used her strength to bump a defender down low and get a look at the rim, bringing UCLA within 1 after trailing for all but 26 seconds prior. The graduate point guard then swiped a pass and set UCLA's offense; Kneepkens navigated screens and nailed an open look at the top of the key to put UCLA up two late in the third. The crowd erupted with the graduate transfer's make.
FIGHT BACK ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 29, 2026
??: ABC#GoBruins | @giannakneepkens pic.twitter.com/UnYdzqdybM
Lauren Betts posted up again and had a defender lose sight of the ball; the center drew a foul on the shot attempt and made both attempts at the charity stripe. Dugalić capped off UCLA's third quarter with an offensive board and second-chance shot that found the bottom of the net. The Bruins outscored Duke 20-8 in the third.
UCLA headed into the final frame leading by a 51-47 margin.
Dugalic started the fourth hot. The Serbian senior national team member posted up for a score on the first possession of the quarter, then grabbed an offensive rebound and scored an and-one for three more. The graduate forward was off on her next 3-point attempt, but Lauren Betts corralled the miss and put it back up for two more.
UCLA won its second challenge of the afternoon and took advantage – Lauren Betts backed down Duke's Toby Fournier to push UCLA's lead to 10. The center scored again on the next trip down, giving her 20 points in the game.
20-piece for Lo! Let's get this chicken! ??
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 29, 2026
??: ABC#GoBruins | @laurenbetts12 pic.twitter.com/tVVG3qejWC
The center blocked her fifth shot of the game and then forced a turnover on Duke's next defensive board, holding up Fournier for a jump ball. She was fouled and made one of her two free throws.
Dugalić avoided a shot clock violation for the Bruins by getting downhill and sinking a clutch layup; Rice also got an offensive rebound and hit one free throw after being fouled on the putback. Lauren Betts received a Leger-Walker pass from a sideline out-of-bounds play and scored, pushing UCLA's lead back to 10 with under a minute to play. Rice made both of her free throws after crossing half court and drawing the intentional foul.
UP NEXT: Final Four (Friday, April 3)
The Bruins will face the winner of No. 1-seed Texas vs. No. 2-seed Michigan – the Fort Worth 3 Regional final tips off Monday, March 30, at 4 p.m. (PT) – in their return to the Final Four.
Official times will be set following the conclusion of the Elite Eight games on Monday. Final Four games will be played in Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Ariz., at 4 p.m. PT and approximately 6:30 p.m. PT next Friday, April 3.
Television assignments will be announced following the conclusion of the national quarterfinals on Monday.
Team Stats
DU
UCLA
FG%
.387
.500
3FG%
.077
.143
FT%
1.000
.769
RB
26
38
TO
13
18
STL
8
7
Game Leaders
Pts
23
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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