SPOKANE, WA — The UCLA Bruins advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time since 2018 after they defeated the Ole Miss Rebels, taking them down 76-62 in the Spokane Regional 1 semi-finals. In a game dominated by the paint early, UCLA was able to pull away early, never looking back. They will face the LSU Tigers for a chance to advance to their first Final Four in program history.
The Bruins dominated the paint early, which helped them take a 19-12 lead after the first quarter. Lauren Betts scored 10 of her 26 points in the period, while grabbing four of her 10 total rebounds and blocking one shot. The Rebels were unable to match her size, which was a key reason for her dominant performance. UCLA led early in the game in points in the paint, 14-6. Ole Miss struggled to begin the game, shooting 5/20 (25%) from the field. Even though the Rebels struggled in the first quarter, they climbed back into the game as both teams headed into the locker room.
Before the break, Ole Miss trimmed the deficit to one, trailing 30-29. Kirsten 'KK' Deans scored nine points in the first half, which led the team. Although the Rebels continued to struggle making shots, their defense helped them get back in the game. The Bruins lived in the paint in the first half, scoring 24 points in the area to Ole Miss’ 19. Janiah Barker also chipped in with her rebounding, grabbing four rebounds to go with her three points. The Rebels climbed back into the game thanks to multiple performances in the quarter, including Tameiya Sadler, who scored six points in the first half. Kennedy Todd-Williams contributed to their comeback as well with her four points and eight rebounds before the break. As the teams headed into the locker room, UCLA tightened up its defense in the second half, sealing the Rebels’ fate.
The Bruins took command of the game back in the third quarter, leading 55-44 heading into the fourth. Kiki Rice played an important role with her passing, dishing out five assists and scoring nine points. UCLA also relied on the scoring of Londynn Jones, who had eight points before the fourth quarter. The Bruins held Ole Miss to one three-pointer in eight attempts, establishing their defense outside the arc. After dominating the game from start to finish, UCLA earned a trip to the Elite Eight, where they face another tough test.
The Bruins are set to face the LSU Tigers in their next game after their win against the Rebels. As both teams are led by their talent in the paint, UCLA will have to rely on its surrounding cast to gain the edge.
