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UCLA

Cori Close cuts down the nets after leading UCLA to program's first-ever Final Four

by: Alex Byington03/30/25_AlexByington
NCAA Womens Basketball: NCAA Tournament Spokane Regional-Ole Miss vs UCLA
Mar 28, 2025; Spokane, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Janiah Barker (0) talks with UCLA Bruins head coach Cori Close during the second half of a Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament basketball game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Spokane Arena. at Spokane Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-Imagn Images

After 14 years at the helm, UCLA head coach Cori Close finally got to cut down the nets after guiding the No. 1-ranked Bruins to the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance with Sunday’s 72-65 win over third-seeded LSU in the Elite Eight.

UCLA has made three Elite Eight appearances, the last coming in 2018, and eight Women’s NCAA Tournament appearance in the last nine years — missing in 2022 — but has never managed to make the final weekend. Until now.

The top-seeded Bruins (34-2) were led by junior stars Gabriela Jaquez, the younger sister of former UCLA men’s star Jamie Jaquez Jr., and center Lauren Betts, who combined for 35 points and 15 rebounds in the game. Jaquez scored a team-high 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range, and eigth rebounds, while Betts added 17 points on 7-of-14 shooting and seven rebounds. Timea Gardiner added 15 points off the bench for UCLA.

The total team effort was key to holding off a sensational performance from LSU junior superstar Flau’jae Johnson, who scored a game-high 28 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, while nearly leading a fourth-quarter comeback Sunday.

UCLA was in control for much of the game but Kim Mulkey and the Tigers would not go out quietly. Although UCLA led by as many 14 points in the second half, LSU battled back to make it a one-possession game after Johnson hit a layup to make it 56-53 with just over three minutes remaining.

That would be as close as it would get, however, as the Bruins hit some free throws on the next two possessions. Jaquez then delivered a dagger 3-pointer to put them up 62-53 with 1:30 remaining. That deficit proved to big to overcome as UCLA hung on for the win.

The Bruines move on to face the winner between Connecticut and USC, which play on Monday, in the Women’s Final Four on April 4.

In its first season in the Big Ten, Cori Close led UCLA to its best-ever season with a 34-2 overall record and 16-2 mark in conference play, including winning the Big Ten Tournament to take over the No. 1 spot in the season rankings. Close is 321-142 overall (.692) and 162-83 in conference play over her 14 seasons in Los Angeles.

— On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.