The UCLA women’s basketball team had its season end in a 78-69 loss to defending national champion LSU in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Albany, N.Y.
UCLA (27-7) took a 67-64 lead with 2:51 to play on a jumper by Gabriela Jaquez before the Tigers (31-5) outscored the Bruins 14-2 down the stretch.
Flau’jae Johnson’s scooping layup with 46 seconds to go gave LSU a 72-68 lead, which was followed seven seconds later by UCLA sophomore Kiki Rice fouling out of the game while trying to drive to the hoop. Two Hailey Van Lith free throws put LSU up six to essentially ice the game.
The second-seeded Bruins, which hasn’t advanced past the Sweet 16 since 2008, stormed back from a 10-point deficit in the second quarter and a frosty 2-of-17 (11.8%) 3-point shooting effort in the first half.
UCLA finished 7 of 32 (21.9%) from the 3-point line.
Lauren Betts gave the third-seeded Tigers problems all day on both ends of the floor. The 6-foot-7 sophomore led UCLA with 14 points and 17 rebounds. In her final game after five seasons as Bruin, Charisma Osborne had eight points.
Johnson led LSU with 24 points and 12 rebounds to go with Angel Reese’s 16 points and 11 rebounds.
The Tigers will take on the winner of the Iowa vs. Colorado game in an Elite Eight showdown Monday.
More to come on this story.
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