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LSU women's basketball is going home. For a second straight year, the Tigers fell in the Elite Eight. This time at the hands of UCLA as the Bruins secured a 72-65 win.
LSU's defense kept UCLA in check in the first quarter, holding the Bruins to just nine points. But in the second quarter, with Lauren Betts on the bench in foul trouble, UCLA took control of the game. A 12-2 run sparked UCLA and the Bruins won the second frame 22-12. UCLA went to the half with a 31-25 lead, despite Betts only playing six minutes.
UCLA's run continued coming out of the half as the Bruins scored the first five points of the quarter.
LSU was getting looks on offense, but shots weren't falling. Guards Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams combined for just six points in the first half while shooting 3/14 from the field.
Meanwhile, LSU big Sa'Myah Smith found herself in foul trouble as she picked up her second foul in the second quarter. LSU was counting on Smith's size to defend UCLA and with Smith on the bench, the Bruins took advantage.
UCLA stretched the lead to 14 in the third quarter.
Then, LSU found life as Flau'Jae Johnson started to find a groove. LSU fought back and trimmed the UCLA lead to five with 4:36 to go. LSU's defense started to make Betts uncomfortable, forcing a series of UCLA turnovers.
LSU cut the deficit to one possession before a questionable foul call sent Betts to the foul line and the lead was stretched to four.
A few moments later, the refs made their presence felt again, giving the ball to UCLA after it rolled out of bounds. Video showed the ball last touched the Bruins, but the refs could not review it as it was just over the two-minute mark.
Then with 1:20 to go, Gabriella Jaquez put the game on ice, sinking a three to make it 62-53. Jaquez's four made three-pointers on the day were a career-high. Jaquez led UCLA with 18 points. Betts finished the day with 17.
Johnson ended up leading LSU with 28 points. Twenty-four of those points came in the second half. Mikaylah Williams and Aneesah Morrow also hit double-digits but were inefficient from the field.
As LSU heads into the offseason, expect Mulkey and the Tigers to be aggressive in the transfer portal. The Tigers have the pieces to retool for another postseason run in 2026.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Instant Recap: LSU women's basketball falls to UCLA in Elite Eight
Continue reading...
LSU's defense kept UCLA in check in the first quarter, holding the Bruins to just nine points. But in the second quarter, with Lauren Betts on the bench in foul trouble, UCLA took control of the game. A 12-2 run sparked UCLA and the Bruins won the second frame 22-12. UCLA went to the half with a 31-25 lead, despite Betts only playing six minutes.
UCLA's run continued coming out of the half as the Bruins scored the first five points of the quarter.
LSU was getting looks on offense, but shots weren't falling. Guards Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams combined for just six points in the first half while shooting 3/14 from the field.
Meanwhile, LSU big Sa'Myah Smith found herself in foul trouble as she picked up her second foul in the second quarter. LSU was counting on Smith's size to defend UCLA and with Smith on the bench, the Bruins took advantage.
UCLA stretched the lead to 14 in the third quarter.
Then, LSU found life as Flau'Jae Johnson started to find a groove. LSU fought back and trimmed the UCLA lead to five with 4:36 to go. LSU's defense started to make Betts uncomfortable, forcing a series of UCLA turnovers.
LSU cut the deficit to one possession before a questionable foul call sent Betts to the foul line and the lead was stretched to four.
A few moments later, the refs made their presence felt again, giving the ball to UCLA after it rolled out of bounds. Video showed the ball last touched the Bruins, but the refs could not review it as it was just over the two-minute mark.
Then with 1:20 to go, Gabriella Jaquez put the game on ice, sinking a three to make it 62-53. Jaquez's four made three-pointers on the day were a career-high. Jaquez led UCLA with 18 points. Betts finished the day with 17.
Johnson ended up leading LSU with 28 points. Twenty-four of those points came in the second half. Mikaylah Williams and Aneesah Morrow also hit double-digits but were inefficient from the field.
As LSU heads into the offseason, expect Mulkey and the Tigers to be aggressive in the transfer portal. The Tigers have the pieces to retool for another postseason run in 2026.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Instant Recap: LSU women's basketball falls to UCLA in Elite Eight
Continue reading...
