UCLA Bruins defeat Duke Blue Devils 85-70 to reach Women’s Final Four
Top seeds UCLA overcame a rare halftime deficit to defeat the Duke Blue Devils 85-70 in Sacramento on Sunday, securing their place in the Women’s Final Four.
The Californian side trailed for the vast majority of the opening stages before Gianna Kneepkens sank a crucial three-pointer to snatch a 47-45 lead in the third quarter.
That decisive shot sparked a dominant period where the Bruins outscored their opponents 20-8 to take control of the Elite Eight tie.
A significant factor in the comeback was the awakening of star center Lauren Betts.
Betts dominates the paint
The 6ft 7in senior struggled initially with just eight first-half points but finished the contest with a commanding 23 points and 10 rebounds.
In doing so, she recorded her sixth career double-double in the NCAA tournament.
The dominant post player also joined Brittney Griner as the only competitor since 2012 to register 20 points, 10 rebounds, and five blocks in a game at this late stage of the tournament.
Duke had initially frustrated the number one overall seeds by employing an aggressive defensive strategy.
Blue Devils’ early promise fades
The Atlantic Coast Conference outfit capitalised on early nerves, scoring 16 points off 12 turnovers while applying constant pressure inside the paint.
Taina Mair was the standout performer for the defeated side, finishing with 21 points and seven rebounds.
The talented guard also matched the school’s single-season record by registering her 201st assist of the campaign.
However, the Blue Devils could not sustain their first-half momentum against a team determined to avenge last year’s semi-final heartbreak.
Chasing a maiden national title
Trailing by eight points at the interval was an unusual position for the Bruins, who had only been behind at halftime once before this season.
That previous occasion resulted in their solitary defeat of the 2025-26 campaign at the hands of Texas.
The Los Angeles-based program is now one step closer to claiming its first-ever women’s national championship.
They will travel to Phoenix on Friday to face either Michigan or the very Texas side that handed them their only loss.
