Top-seeded UCLA survives Ole Miss scare to roll into Elite Eight

SPOKANE, Wash. — UCLA’s game plan is pretty simple.

It’s to give the ball to Lauren Betts and let her work.

Betts put on another memorable performance Friday as she carried top-seeded UCLA to a 76-60 win against fifth-seeded Ole Miss in the Sweet 16.

Betts had 31 points on 15-of-16 shooting with 10 rebounds, three blocks and two assists to lift the Bruins to their first Elite Eight berth since 2018.

Ole Miss had no answers for the 6-foot-7 star whose brilliance shined every time she stepped on the court.

The Rebels tried double-teaming her and hounding the Bruins guards.

It didn’t matter. Betts still had her way.

Hook shots, layups, put-back buckets and kick-out passes to teammates on the perimeter. You name it, Betts was doing it.

But Betts’ defensive wizardry was just as impressive as her offensive efficiency.

Most people at Spokane Arena Friday night couldn’t help but admire what she was doing on the court.

Her teammates, on the other hand, have come to expect that kind of luminosity from Betts.

“She’s so dominant every day in practice, and I know you guys don’t see it, but it’s just like every single day she comes with the same consistency, and she’s just so great,” Kiki Rice said. “When we do get in games, it’s like throw the ball up to Lauren. She will score, get me an assist. But I think just having her on my team, I’m so grateful to have her on my team and not be playing against her.”

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Friday’s performance followed a stunning 30-point, 14-rebound performance in a second-round win against Richmond.

“You have a generational player on your team,” UCLA coach Cori Close said. “She’s not only dominant for herself, but she makes everybody on the floor better.

“And so you just want to put the ball in her hands as many ways and as many times as possible.”

Friday was UCLA’s third straight appearance in the Sweet 16. The Bruins’ previous two trips left them with the sour taste of losing.

But this time around, UCLA learned how sweet it is to be one of the final eight teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament.

While Betts was the singular most dominant player on the floor, the win had some drama.

The Bruins had just a one-point lead at the half on fifth-seeded Ole Miss before an explosive third quarter helped lift UCLA to a win.

“It was the adjustments we made at halftime,” said Rice, who had 13 points and seven assists. “We felt like we’re better than one point, better than Ole Miss, and that was the score at the half, but we needed to come out and play our game, rebound the ball, take care of the ball, and just continue to follow the game plan.”

UCLA, the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament, is now one win away from reaching its first Final Four.

The Bruins are set to face LSU — the team that ended their season in the Sweet 16 a year ago — in the Elite Eight on Sunday.