Lauren Betts was unstoppable in the paint, finishing with 28 points, 13 rebounds, and seven blocks, while Gabriela Jaquez caught fire from beyond the arc, scoring a season-high 23 points with nine rebounds. Kiki Rice contributed 14 points and nine assists as the Bruins (28-2) bounced back from their regular-season finale loss to USC.
Nebraska (21-11), playing its third game in as many days, stayed resilient throughout. The Cornhuskers trailed just 41-39 at halftime, thanks in part to a big three-pointer just before the third-quarter buzzer. Britt Prince led Nebraska with 24 points, while Alexis Markowski added 11.
The turning point came in the third quarter when UCLA broke a 47-47 tie with a 13-2 run, finally creating separation. Nebraska clawed back to within four early in the fourth, but Betts, Jaquez and Rice combined for a 9-2 surge to put the game out of reach.
UCLA’s dominance on the boards played a crucial role, as they secured a 16-8 edge in offensive rebounds and outscored Nebraska 17-6 in second-chance points.
With the win, UCLA advances to Saturday’s semifinal, where they will face No. 13 Ohio State. Nebraska, despite the loss, made a strong case for an NCAA Tournament bid.
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Featured Image Photographed by Darlene Sanzon/Daily Bruin.
