UCLA advances to the Sweet 16 after Lauren Betts’ career-night with 35 points and 9 rebounds
UCLA Bruins #51 Lauren Betts (C) is shooting a jump shot from the left side of the court while being surrounded by several Oklahoma State Cowgirls’ defenders. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 March 23, 2026.
WESTWOOD, CA - Lauren Betts' last game at Pauley Pavilion had the UCLA Bruins (33-1) going to the NCAA Sweet 16, after having a career night scoring 35 points on 15 of 19 shooting, along with 9 rebounds to knock off the #8 seed Oklahoma State Cowgirls 87-68.
“I was just working really hard on getting seals,” Betts said. “My teammates did a really great job finding me. Some of those passes were absolutely insane.”
Gianna Kneepkens was second in scoring for the Bruins with 15 points, and Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez both had 10 points. Achol Akot led Oklahoma State in scoring with 23 points, Jadyn Wooten with 18 points, and Amari Whiting with 8 points.
The UCLA Bruins jumped out on the Oklahoma State Cowgirls 11-2, capped off with a layup by Gabriela Jaquez in the first quarter. Kneepkens would pull up for a three-pointer to give the Bruins a 17-6 lead. UCLA led 21-6 to end the first quarter.
The Bruins pushed their lead to sixteen, 24-8, with a three-pointer by Lena Bilic from the left side of the basket. Betts on a rebound would go back up for a layup that gave UCLA a 30-10 lead with 7:10 left on the clock before halftime. The Cowgirls had to call a timeout after Bilic nailed another three-pointer to make the score 33-10.
Oklahoma State Cowgirls #11 Achol Akot (F) is going strong toward the basket, and UCLA Bruins # 5 Charlisse Leger-Walker is standing in her way. Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 March 23, 2026.
Oklahoma State trailed 39-17 with a jump shot by Lena Girardi. UCLA led at halftime 46-26. Betts led the Bruins in scoring in the first half with 14 points, Jaquez with 7 points, and Bilic and Kneepkens both with 6 points. Achol Akot led the Cowgirls in scoring with 11 points.
In the third quarter, UCLA’s head coach had to call a timeout after Oklahoma State’s Jadyn Wooten knocked down a jump shot, making the score 52-36.
UCLA Bruins #8 Gianna Kneepkens (G) is pulling up for a jump shot and being challenge on her shot by Oklahoma State Cowgirls’# 13 Haleigh Timmer (G). Photo by Jerry Kelly/TGSportstv1 March 23, 2026.
Betts had to restore order after the Cowgirls were on a 9-0 run, went up for a layup, and was fouled, and made her free throw to complete the and-one to give the Bruins a 57-39 lead. UCLA led 64-47 to end the third quarter.
Oklahoma State trailed by 14 points, 64-50, to start the fourth quarter after Stailee Heard nailed a three-pointer from the left side of the court Betts would drive to the basket for a layup that increased UCLA’s lead to 75-56 with 3:58 left in the game.
The Bruins would close out the Cowgirls at Pauley Pavilion, and for the seniors on their team, they can hang their heads up high as they returned to the Sweet 16, four years straight, and will take on the #4 seed Minnesota Gophers (24-8) on Friday, March 27 at 4:30 pm, in hopes of making back to the Final Four, and to get a shot at the National Championship.
“They have a team that I believe is capable of winning it all,” Cowgirls coach Jacie Hoyt said.