Mar 30, 2025, 05:53 PM ET
Part of the Ultimate 4 is about. No. 1 seeds South Carolina and UCLA punched their tickets to Tampa, Florida, on Sunday.
The rest two spots within the nationwide semifinals of the 2025 ladies’s NCAA event might be determined Monday, when TCU takes on Texas (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) and UConn faces USC (9 p.m. ET, ESPN).
Sunday, the Gamecocks downed No. 2 seed Duke and the Bruins beat third-seeded LSU.
We are monitoring Sunday’s doubleheader from each and every perspective, with are living updates and research from courtside. Apply alongside as we spoil down each and every sport of the Elite 8.
Soar to: Relive the motion | Complete effects and research
Van Lith brushes off doubters | What is subsequent for Duke, NC State
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UCLA’s Lauren Betts is pumped up after and-1 falls
Lauren Betts we could out a celebratory yell after sinking an and-1 bucket.
Ultimate: UCLA 72, LSU 65
How UCLA beat LSU: Intensity, taking pictures and protection. On an afternoon when Lauren Betts was once restricted to a season-low six first-half mins by way of foul bother, and big name guard Kiki Rice shot 1-of-7 from the sector, the Bruins reached the Ultimate 4 for the primary time within the NCAA technology anyway as a result of contributions from their function avid gamers. Enjoying prolonged mins instead of Betts, reserve Timea Gardiner knocked down 5 the most important 3-pointers and scored 15 issues, her maximum since February. Gabriela Jaquez made any other 4 triples and scored 16 issues as UCLA shot 10-of-24 (42%) from past the arc, a a ways cry from closing season’s 22% 3-point taking pictures (7-of-32) in a loss to LSU within the Candy 16.
On the different finish, the Tigers shot a mixed 10-of-28 (36%) and had as many turnovers (10) as box targets throughout the second one and 1/3 quarters because the Bruins rallied from an early deficit and constructed a lead as massive as 14 issues. Flau’Jae Johnson led a overdue LSU push, however the Bruins hung on for the win.
The No. 1 issue that helped UCLA achieve the Ultimate 4: The 6-foot-7 presence of Betts, whose stat line Sunday (17 issues, 7 rebounds and six blocks) certified — remarkably — as an off night time. In any case, Betts had recorded consecutive 30-10 video games within the spherical of 32 and Candy 16, taking pictures a mixed 29-of-33 from the sector.
Betts’ emergence as an unstoppable power within the paint helped the Bruins stage up after knocking at the door again and again. UCLA had reached the Candy 16 six instances previously decade below Cori Shut, together with the Elite 8 in 2018, however that is the primary time the Bruins have complicated to the Ultimate 4 since 1979 — previous to the NCAA sponsoring ladies’s basketball. Led by way of Corridor of Famer Ann Meyers, UCLA gained the AIAW nationwide name in 1978 and returned in 1979.
The Bruins extensively utilized closing yr’s loss to the Tigers as crucial measuring stick and adjusted the end result this time.
UCLA’s key within the Ultimate 4: Proceeding to concentrate on “going 1-0.” That has been Shut’s speaking level for warding off having a look forward or stressing the magnitude of the instant for a program that hasn’t been this a ways in any of its avid gamers’ lifetimes. It is conceivable the Bruins may just face a well-recognized opponent in crosstown rival USC, the highest seed within the reverse bracket coming into Monday’s regional ultimate, additionally in Spokane. But when UConn knocks off the USC, UCLA might be at a vital revel in deficit in opposition to Geno Auriemma, Paige Bueckers and the Huskies. Both approach, the Bruins will undoubtedly deal with Friday’s nationwide semifinal as simply any other sport for the crew that earned the No. 1 total seed within the NCAA event. — Kevin Pelton
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Gabriela Jaquez knocks down an enormous 3 for UCLA
Gabriela Jaquez makes an enormous 3-pointer to increase UCLA’s lead overdue in opposition to LSU.
Ultimate: South Carolina 54, Duke 50
How South Carolina beat Duke: On guts, grit and veteran execution. Within the fourth quarter, with the season at the line, trainer Crack of dawn Staley depended on her maximum skilled avid gamers — all seniors and juniors — who began the sport. Additionally they completed it.
As has been the case lately, intensity has been a large energy of the Gamecocks this season. However in opposition to Duke’s suffocating protection, Staley sought after her maximum skilled avid gamers to cause them to a 5th consecutive Ultimate 4. South Carolina survived some offensive dry spells and a few irritating moments when it gave the impression Duke had extra power.
Submit avid gamers Chloe Kitts and Sania Feagin mixed for 26 issues and 12 rebounds. Kitts, who was once the SEC event MVP, made two unfastened throws with 5 seconds left that sealed the win.
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South Carolina celebrates clinching Ultimate 4 spot over Duke
South Carolina celebrates as time expires in its 54-50 victory over Duke within the Elite 8.
The No. 1 issue that helped South Carolina achieve the Ultimate 4: It comes all the way down to this system staples Staley has established in main the Gamecocks to 3 nationwide championships. She instills a mentality that South Carolina will play to the buzzer and make fewer errors when the stakes are best possible. And for probably the most section, the Gamecocks have carried out that this season, particularly overdue of their wins over Maryland (Candy 16) and Duke.
Staley additionally has adjusted to other mentalities from her Ultimate 4 groups during the last decade. She is aware of that numerous warmth and hearth from her does not paintings as neatly with this yr’s workforce because it did with some previous groups. Staley’s skill to carry prime requirements however nonetheless be versatile is a huge a part of why we will be able to see South Carolina within the Ultimate 4 once more.
South Carolina’s key within the Ultimate 4: Getting extra from its more youthful avid gamers. The Gamecocks had been in a position to live much longer than Duke regardless of scoring simply 54 issues and no longer getting a lot from their younger stars. Sophomores MiLaysia Fulwiley and Tessa Johnson and freshman Joyce Edwards mixed to attain simply 9 issues on 4-of-14 taking pictures with seven turnovers. As dependable as South Carolina’s beginning vets — Kitts, Feagin, Bree Corridor, Te-Hina Paopao and Raven Johnson — are, it sort of feels most likely the Gamecocks will want their younger avid gamers to give a contribution much more to get two wins in Tampa, Florida. — Michael Voepel
MORE: Lawson: Fournier’s sub out at finish of sport was once ‘trainer’s choice’
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Paopao and Kitts have the Gamecock trustworthy pumped
Te-Hina Paopao and Chloe Kitts rating consecutive buckets to offer South Carolina a lead over Duke within the fourth quarter.
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