For the second time in as many years, the UCLA Bruins have punched their ticket to the Final Four. While they aspire for a more favorable outcome this time, the team is currently savoring their hard-earned Elite Eight triumph against the Duke Blue Devils.
There were moments during Sunday's intense matchup where it appeared UCLA's season might conclude prematurely. Duke established a lead of up to ten points, but the Bruins recalibrated their strategy in the second half. Their significant size advantage proved challenging for the Blue Devils on both ends of the court, allowing UCLA to regain control.
UCLA will undoubtedly breathe a sigh of relief following their victory over Duke. The Bruins struggled with ball security, committing a surprising 18 turnovers, and their three-point shooting was abysmal, converting only two of 14 attempts. However, their long-range shooting woes were somewhat overshadowed by Duke's even worse performance from deep, as the Blue Devils managed just one successful three-pointer out of 13 attempts.
Despite occasional offensive inconsistencies, UCLA's imposing size consistently keeps them competitive. Lauren Betts delivered another stellar performance, and Angela Dugalic provided a significant boost off the bench, contributing 15 points and six rebounds. Even Sienna Betts made a notable impact in her limited seven minutes, scoring four points and demonstrating promising interior play.
Coach Cori Close opted for a condensed rotation in Sunday's game, with only seven Bruins seeing action. Close allowed Lauren Betts to play a season-high 38 minutes, closely followed by Kiki Rice with 36 minutes. While Lena Bilic and Amanda Muse have been valuable assets, Close relied on her seasoned players, who ultimately delivered a crucial win.
Duke successfully exploited some of UCLA's vulnerabilities. The Bruins lack exceptional game-changing speed, and Duke frequently attempted to accelerate the pace, which often led to UCLA's turnovers.
This performance, while a win, did not necessarily reflect championship-caliber play. Since their victory over Iowa in the Big Ten championship game, the Bruins have appeared slightly off-kilter. To contend for a national title, UCLA must rediscover their balance and execute a cleaner, more precise style of basketball in the upcoming Final Four matchups.
