(Phoenix, AZ) The second National Semifinal Game pitted the Bruins of UCLA against the Texas Longhorns.
The senior laiden Bruins had five players with a ton of playing experience. For Texas, Rory Harmon came into the game with 155 starts.
Both teams knew what was ahead, a date Sunday with the South Carolina Gamecocks who disposed of UConn in the first semifinal game.
Coach Cori Close was looking to take her Bruins to their first National Championship game. Texas was looking for their first title since 1986.
First Quarter
Texas scored first as Madison Booker hit a jumper on their first possession 2-0.
Then, UCLA ran off seven straight points as Gianna Kneepkens hit a three and a two pointer, 7-2. Lauren Betts and Kneepkens had all the Bruin points.
Early on, the Bruins hit the glass hard and had a two to one rebounding lead (6-3) that led to second chance opportunities.
Texas got behind by ten points 14-4 and still trying to figure out the swarming UCLA defense that only allowed the Horns was shot per possession and 2-9 from the field (22%).
The Longhorns at the first media timout had no points in the paint and were playing right into UCLA’s strength. They got only their third basket of the game with 1:21 left and a 14-6 deficit at the end of the first quarter.
The six points Texas scored was their lowest output of the season.
Photo – Catherine Wong/602 Sports Talk
Second Quarter
Rori Harmon got Texas going on the first possession of the second quarter with a short jump shot off a fast break.
The Longhorns had a modest 6-2 run to draw within 16-12 and then followed the UCLA basket with their first three pointer and down by one 16-15 at the 4:32 mark.
Things settled down from the frenzy we saw in the first quarter as the game was a one possession game 20-17 Bruins at the half.
Halftime
As dominate as UCLA was in the opening quarter, they only managed six points in the second quarter. Texas regrouped and scored eleven points pull within three.
The Longhorns were only 6-32 (25%), but UCLA cooled off dramatically and finished 9-24 (38%).
Third Quarter
Each team hit their first shots but then went cold as this game saw in the first half.
What allowed Texas to get back into the game was the Bruin turnovers. As of midway through this quarter, they had 12 turnovers to the Horns 6.
UCLA put a little distance between them and Texas with a couple of quick hoops by Betts and a 28-21 advantage at the 3:30 mark.
Texas defense continued to harass the Bruins and had made 10 steals that kept them in the game.
UCLA shot their first free throws of the game woth 1:43 in the third quarter.
Justice Carlton got her missed shot and with two Bruins hanging all over her, kissed it off the backboard and was fouled and coverted the the old fashioned three point play to draw the Longhorns back into a one possession game, 29-26.
UCLA had difficulties getting the ball inbounds and only because the Horns bailed them out with a foul. Gabriela Jaquez hit both free throws to end the quarter onlyup 31-28.
Photo – Catherine Wong/602 Sports Talk
Fourth Quarter
Former Arizona player Brea Cunningham picked up here fourth foul with just seconds into the final quarter.
Kiki Rice hit a clutch three point shot that got the Bruins rolling with Jaquez finishing up a fast break layup and UCLA was suddenly up buy ten points 38-28 with 8:30 to go.
Texas was having difficulty cutting into the Bruin lead as both teams were trading baskets as the clock continued to run.
Kneepkens hot a long three to give UCLA its biggest lead 45-32.
Texas came back with five quick points to cut lead to eight point 45-37 thanks to Jordan Lee.
With under three minutes to go, Betts hit a clutch fadeaway four footer to get the lead back to ten points.
The Horns who were on an 8-2 run had to make some defensive stops to get cloer in the game 47-40.
Texas was now on fire both offensively and lock down defense and continued their run to 12-2.
With just 18 seconds left and UCLA ball, they had to use their last timeout to avoid a five second violation. After taking the ball in the front court, Texas still had fouls to give as Rice was fouled and the Bruins kept possession. Rice calmly hit both free throws to make it a two possession game with 13.3 left.
Texas had difficulty getting a shot as two prayers went unanswered as the Bruins survived 51-44 to advance to Sunday’s championship game.
Wrap Up
This gane was nothing like it was supposed to be. Texas started very slow and was held to six points in the first quarter as the Bruins took an eight point lead.
In the second quarter, UCLA caught whatever plagued the Longhorns scoring only six points while Texas got back into the game and only trailed at the half by three points 20-17.
The lethargy carried over after halftime with both teams playing even 11-11, but nothing close to what was expected with a load of All Americans and future WNBA Players on the court.
UCLA kept trying to pull away in the final quarter, but Texas kept hanging around but ultimately came up short when the game turned into a “must foul” scenario.
Kyla Oldacre led the Horns with 11 points with Rori Harmon and Madison Booker scoring 8 points and 6 points respectively.
UCLA had four players in double figures led by Lauren Betts with 16 points with Kiki Rice adding 11 pointa and Jaquez and Kneepkens each with 10 points.
The game was ugly overall and the Bruins better make some serious adjustments before Sunday or South Carolina may run them out of the arena.
Game time tipoff on Easter is noon.
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