UCLA women ride Lauren Betts’ block into NCAA title game

PHOENIX – What had seemed like a certain victory for UCLA was suddenly no sure thing.

Texas had the ball, all the momentum and was now within one possession against the Bruins in the last minute of a Women’s Final Four semifinal on Friday night

As UCLA center Lauren Betts sprinted back on defense, she spotted Longhorns star Madison Booker driving toward the basket inside the Mortgage Matchup Center.

Betts pivoted to meet Booker in front of the rim. As Booker attempted an over-the-shoulder layup, Betts extended her right arm.

What came next sealed destiny for both teams.

Shot blocked. Game over.

“As soon as I saw her getting downhill,” Betts said after her team pulled away for a 51-44 victory, “I’m like, all right, please block this, just don’t let her score.”

Booker didn’t score, and neither did her team over the final 20 seconds. Betts snagged the rebound after her block and passed the ball to teammate Kiki Rice, who made four free throws to set the final margin and help the Bruins avenge their only loss of the season.

It was the final frustration for Booker on a night in which Texas’ leading scorer made just 3 of 23 shots and finished with six points. She said her shot against Betts had no chance because she slipped.

“That’s not the play – that’s not what we wanted,” Booker said. “I literally slipped.”

Even if Betts’ block needed an asterisk, there was no denying her across-the-board impact, another double-double vaulting the Bruins into the championship game against South Carolina on Sunday afternoon.

She finished with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting to go with 11 rebounds and 3 blocks. According to OptaSTATS, that made Betts the first player to have at least 15 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting at least 70% in a Final Four men’s or women’s game since Kentucky’s Anthony Davis did so in 2012 against Louisville.

“I mean, like, we could sit here all day and talk about Lauren’s impact,” UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens said, before adding, with a smile, “I’ll keep it short. The amount she draws in on offense helps us all, all the guards, ’cause you can go one on one, but I don’t know, that’s a choice if you want to make it. If they double, she’ll kick it out because she’s a great passer.

“On defense I think she just is a threat inside. When people get down there, at least in practice when I get down there, I don’t want to shoot layups. That’s just huge, just her being there is a factor and makes you think about it.”

Betts’ performance was all the more impressive considering she took a tumble after getting fouled early in the third quarter and smacked the back of her head against the court.

“I’m not going to lie, it hurt; it hurt pretty bad,” Betts said with a smile. “But I feel like when you’re in a situation, you’re playing in the Final Four, your season’s on the line, you’ve got to get over it and keep playing. There was no way I was coming out of the game.”

UCLA coach Cori Close said Betts’ ability to move her feet to block Booker’s shot provided another retort to those who have questioned the mobility of a player who stands 6 feet 7.

“Watch her when we can switch with her,” Close said, referring to Betts’ defending guards. “When that play [with Booker] happened, I really have so much confidence that every time she is in a matchup, she’s going to find a way to alter, block, scare somebody from doing that. I just think she’s spectacular.”

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