30-points, 14-rebounds, 4-assists —numbers that scream dominance. Lauren Betts and the mighty UCLA Bruins seemed poised to roll past any opponent willing to challenge them. And that they did, beating the #8-seeded Richmond Spiders 84 – 67. But for much of the game, the #1-ranked Bruins were not in control. By halftime, the team found themselves in a deadlock, 36-36, tie with the Richmond Spiders.
The Spiders’ efficiency served as a difficult tree to climb for the Bruins throughout the game. Having an effective team field goal percentage of 51.0%, Richmond found ways to capitalize on efficient shot selection and smart ball movement. Combined with lackadaisical travel calls and whistles that didn’t go in the way of the Bruins, UCLA struggled to find their rhythm.
(Photo by: Ross Turteltaub)
The star of the show for the Spiders had to be Maggie Doogan, a 6-2 Junior forward who stretched the floor and provided the engine to Richmonds offense. Doogan scored half of Richmonds points by the end of the first half and was the overall assist leader for the Spiders. However, what made the Spiders so effective and what made this game competitive was their ability to outscore the Bruins in the paint 20-16 in the first half. The small ball lineup, where the tallest individual on the floor was 6-2, allowed Richmond to exploit mismatches with quick ball movement and aggressive cuts to the rim. Their speed and spacing kept UCLA’s defense on its heels, forcing the Bruins to adjust to a more physical style of play than they had anticipated
Yet the Bruins persevered, coming out of the half with a 3-point hot streak, scoring 5 for 8 from beyond the arc in the 3rd quarter. Not only that, but the perks of having home field advantage as the highest seed in the tournament paid dividends. “That was definitely one of my favorite crowds I’ve played in front of,” said Junior UCLA guard Kiki Rice, who posted a season-high 23 points along with 7 assists at Pauley Pavilion. “Just their energy and how they carried us, especially in the third quarter, [brought] us that extra boost we really appreciated.”
Fueled by the energy of the crowd and the confidence instilled by Coach Cori Close at halftime, UCLA seized control. They knocked down clutch three-pointers, outscoring the Spiders 29-7 in the third quarter, and tightened up their playmaking. The Bruins committed just 5 turnovers compared to Richmond’s 14 over the course of the game. “As guards, that’s on us—to find the right people and put them in the right positions,” said Rice.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
The 14 rebounds Betts gathered was the difference maker between the Bruins and the Spiders (literally) with Richmond having 28 rebounds to UCLA’s 40. Betts was a magnet, grabbing any offensive boards missed by her teammates (or herself) and making sure they were converted into second-chance points. With quick outlet passes being delivered from down low or simply putting the ball up, Betts was able to show national TV why UCLA will be a force to be reckoned with in the Sweet 16.
It was a war of attrition for the Spiders; they looked exhausted in the paint having to guard 6-7 Betts for another half, and it showed in the amount of sluggish fouls committed by the visiting team and lack of rebounding. “Tonight we made the right decision with the ball, and I was just there to clean… up the mess whenever I need[ed] to,” spoke Lauren Betts in her post-game presser.
The Bruins will face #5- seeded Ole Miss in their Sweet 16 matchup on March 28th, a game the Bruins have had on their mind since before entering the tournament. “We are planning ahead all the time,” Close said when asked about Ole Miss in their coming Sweet-16 matchup. [Ole Miss] is one of the best defensive teams in the country. They’re extremely physical… We are going to have to get our act together for the Sweet 16 game… But we will be ready.”
