The magic carpet ride has finally come to an end. After roaring through the tournament and into the program’s first NCAA Final Four, the Bruins left Tampa with a whimper, losing to Connecticut 85-51.
It looked obvious from the tip-off that the Bruins were not ready to meet the moment on Friday. After Lauren Betts secured the first possession, Londynn Jones and Angela Dugalic completely botched a pick and roll, which led to a transition layup for Azzi Fudd 20 seconds into the game. UCLA fell behind 2-0, and never gained the lead.
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Connecticut made the choice to mostly defend Betts inside one-on-one with two freshmen: Sarah Strong and Jana El Alfy. The plan both did and didn’t work. Betts racked up 26 points on 11-18 shooting in 35 minutes, but she was really the only Bruin to show up on this big stage of college basketball.
UCLA forgot how to throw entry passes to start the game, showing just how amped up they were to start the contest. In the first quarter, multiple players threw direct chest passes into Betts at shoulder height. Needless to say, those passes were deflected, leading to six UCLA turnovers in the quarter.