<UCLA got to the Final Four on the strength of the nation's best offense. When it arrived, it was a defensive juggernaut. UCLA stymied South Carolina, 79-51, on Sunday in the national title game to secure the program's first NCAA championship. It was a dominant UCLA effort from the opening tip that turned into a runaway in the second half. Advertisement The win denied South Carolina its third championship in five seasons and a fourth overall for head coach Dawn Staley. The Bruins now have their second national title after securing the AIAW championship in 1978. The NCAA took over the championship tournament in 1982. The championship is the first for Cori Close in her 15th season as UCLA's head coach. "It's immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine," Close told ESPN after the game, fighting back tears. "It's beyond my wildest dreams. It's meaningful because of the people I've gotten to share it with."
South Carolina couldn’t counter Jaquez, MOP Betts UCLA All-American Lauren Betts overcame a health scare in the first quarter to anchor a second straight dominant showing by the Bruins since arriving in Phoenix at the Final Four. Advertisement Betts had a bit of a coughing spell early in the game and needed to use an inhaler on the bench. But she returned to the floor quickly and confirmed at halftime that she was fine, chalking the incident up to the dry air in Phoenix and having something in her throat. There was nothing wrong with her game. South Carolina had no answers inside for the strength and skill of UCLA’s 6-7 center. Betts repeatedly established her position near the basket, then converted easy buckets over overmatched defenders at the rim. She finished with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks while shooting 6 of 10 from the field. Her inside presence set her teammates up for good looks from outside, and the Bruins took advantage with an 8-of-19 (42%) effort from 3. Advertisement Gabriela Jaquez led the UCLA scoring effort with 21 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 8 of 14 from the field and 2 of 4 from 3. Betts was named the NCAA tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. “It’s having mental toughness, believing in my teammates, knowing that they’re going to get me catches, just continuing to work hard,” Betts said of her performance after the game. “I do it for my teammates. I don’t do it for me. “It’s not to get points, it’s to create.”
Smothering UCLA defense On defense, UCLA set the tone early and found another level again after stifling Texas in Friday’s national semifinal. Advertisement The Gamecocks got off to a 1-for-9 start from the field and finished the first quarter shooting 3 of 18. For the game, a South C…
