SPOKANE, Wash.  -- The one-seed UCLA Bruins got their revenge against the three-seed LSU Tigers 72-65 to win the Spokane 1 Region, and advance to their first Final Four since 1978. After dominating the paint inside thanks to their superstar forward, they faced a tough battle against a winning program, and the result was an unwavering effort from the entire team.

The start to the game was similarly rough for both teams, as neither UCLA nor LSU was able to buy a bucket early on. The Tigers took the lead after the first quarter, 13-9, thanks to a 7-0 run over the last 2:14. Aneesa Morrow led the way with seven points, to go along with three rebounds. After starting slow in the previous game, Mikaylah Williams had two points in the first period, but secured four rebounds. The Bruins were led by their star forward, Lauren Betts, who scored six of her 17 points in the quarter and got two blocks. Although she demonstrated her dominance on the defensive end, she did get in foul trouble early after committing two fouls before the end of the period. Despite UCLA being down early, they started the second quarter with a run that helped them grab the lead before the break.

Before the half ended, the Bruins took the lead 31-25 over LSU. After not scoring a point in the first quarter, Timea Gardiner scored nine points on three three-pointers. UCLA was unable to make a three-point shot in the opening quarter, but they made four of their six attempts (75%) in the second. Gabriela Jacquez also aided the Bruins' scoring before the half’s end, scoring five points, with two steals on defense. The Tigers continued to struggle making their shots, only converting 33% of them in the quarter. Last-Tear Pao performed the best for LSU in the period, scoring three points and adding one rebound. After starting the contest with the lead, they were unable to bother the Bruins’ shot attempts to close the half. As UCLA came out of the locker room, they stuck to what worked at the end of the first half as they further extended the lead.

The Bruins started the third quarter strong, but the Tigers kept the game competitive heading into the fourth. LSU continued to struggle making shots, but they managed to end the third trailing 46-41. Flau’Jae Johnson struggled in the first half, but scored eight points to start the second half. She finished the contest with 16 overall. Although she didn’t score through three quarters, Angela Dugalić had a massive impact, with a team-high +/- of 23. The Tigers lost Morrow in the quarter due to a broken nose after colliding with a teammate on a screen attempt, but she was able to return to the game. Even though LSU fought back to make the game more manageable, UCLA prevailed in the closing quarter to make program history.

Both teams battled hard in the fourth quarter, but the Bruins made the more valiant effort and were rewarded with the win. In the previous quarter, a timeout was called, and before UCLA head coach Cori Close addressed her team, Betts’ leadership was on full display. She looked towards her teammates sitting down and motivated them not to let the Tigers push them around and stay true to who they are.

“(The message was) We’re not gonna let (LSU)’s trash talk or the way they play affect the way we do,” Betts said after the win. “We play our game, we’re UCLA, we’re the best, and we’re gonna win this game.”