LSU vs. UCLA women’s basketball live updates: Bruins hold off Tigers to advance to Final Four
UCLA women’s basketball withstood a late comeback from LSU to advance to the Final Four with a 72-65 win in the women's NCAA Tournament.
The No. 1 Bruins saw the No. 3 Tigers get within a possession late in the fourth quarter but held on for the win. UCLA is headed to the Final Four for the first time in program history. The Bruins had been 0-2 in the Elite Eight, with its last appearance in 2018.
LSU knocked UCLA in the Sweet 16 last season.
The Tigers cut the lead to three points with 3:24 remaining but could never get closer. The Bruins responded with seven straight points, including four from Gabriela Jaquez, to retake control.
Kim Mulkey and LSU go down in the Elite Eight for the second straight season after winning the national championship in 2023.
Catch up with the Paste BN Network here with updates, scores and highlights from the women's Elite Eight game between the Tigers and Bruins:
UCLA advances to Final Four with win over LSU in Elite Eight
UCLA will advance to the Final Four with a 72-65 win over LSU in the Elite Eight. The Bruins withstood a late run by the Tigers to hold on for the victory.
UCLA vs LSU: Bruins will escape with win over Tigers in Elite Eight
Kiki Rice hits a pair of free throws to extend the UCLA lead to 64-55 with 49 seconds left. The Bruins take control of the game after the Tigers cut the lead to a single possession at three points with just over three minutes left.
Holly Rowe confirms Aneesah Morrow broke nose
ESPN sideline reporter Holly Rowe confirmed that LSU's Aneesah Morrow broke her nose near the end of the third quarter.
“I can confirm she has broken her nose," Rowe said at the start of the fourth quarter. "She is a tough young woman. ... She is going to tough it out right now. Swelling has already started but she is not going to let her team down in this moment."
Aneesah Morrow set to return
Morrow emerged from the tunnel in the break between the third and fourth quarters, drawing cheers from the LSU fans. She immediately went to the scorer's table to check back in.
Morrow is on the floor to begin the fourth quarter.
UCLA vs LSU: Bruins hold 5-point lead entering fourth quarter
UCLA leads LSU by five points entering the fourth quarter. Lauren Betts has 12 points to lead the Bruins, while Aneesah Morrow has 12 points to lead the Tigers.
UCLA vs LSU: Tigers' Aneesah Morrow injured
Aneesah Morrow, who has been LSU's best player against UCLA, took a hit to the face when she collided with Sa'Myah Smith beneath the basket with 1:22 left in the third quarter. Morrow tumbled to the ground, grabbing her nose, and LSU coach Kim Mulkey and members of LSU's staff came onto the floor to check on her. After several minutes, she was helped to her feet and slowly walked back to the bench, holding a towel to her nose. Morrow initially sat at the end of the bench before being led back to the locker room.
Losing Morrow would be devastating for LSU. She's the Tigers' leading scorer so far, with 13 points, and is also their defensive catalyst. - Nancy Armour
UCLA vs LSU: Tigers cut Bruins lead to seven points
UCLA has gone cold from the field and LSU is able to cut the Bruins lead to 44-37 with 2:36 left in the third quarter.
UCLA vs LSU: Gabriela Jaquez 3-pointer forces Tigers' timeout
Gabriela Jaquez hits a 3-pointer with 6:33 left in the third quarter to push UCLA's lead to a game-high 14 points. Jaquez has 11 points and four 3-pointers.
UCLA vs LSU: Bruins open double-digit lead in second half
UCLA has opened a double-digit lead at 36-25 with 8:23 left in the third quarter. Londynn Jones hit a 3-pointer and Lauren Betts scored a layup for the scoring for the Bruins.
UCLA leads LSU by six at halftime
UCLA holds a 31-25 halftime lead over LSU. Timea Gardiner leads the Bruins with nine points, while Gabriela Jaquez has eight points. Aneesah Morrow has nine points to lead the Tigers.
UCLA uses 6-0 run to take 6-point lead
UCLA holds a 23-17 lead with 4:58 left in the second quarter at the media timeout. The Bruins are on a 6-0 run and have scored 12 of the last 14 points. The Tigers have turned the ball over three times and not scored in the last 2:42 of game clock.
LSU ends first quarter on 7-0 run to take lead
LSU ended the first quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 13-9 lead after one quarter. Aneesah Morrow has seven points as the leading scorer on both sides. Lauren Betts has six points to lead the Bruins.
LSU takes lead over UCLA
At the second media timeout, LSU has retaken an 11-9 lead with 57 seconds left in the first quarter. The Tigers have hit three straight field goals.
UCLA leads LSU at first media timeout
UCLA holds a 7-2 lead at the first media timeout in the first quarter with 4:28 left. The Tigers have opened shooting 2 of 13 from the field. Lauren Betts is 2 for 3 with four points for the Bruins.
South Carolina holds on for win over Duke
Defending national champions South Carolina held on for a 54-50 win in the first Elite Eight game of the day Sunday. The Gamecocks trailed by four entering the fourth quarter but outscored the Blue Devils 16-8 to earn the come-from-behind victory.
Starting lineups for LSU-UCLA Elite Eight game
Here's a look at the starting lineups for LSU-UCLA for the Elite Eight matchup:
LSU:
- G: Flau'Jae Johnson
- G: Mikaylah Williams
- G: Shayeann Day-Wilson
- F: Sa'Myah Smith
- F: Aneesah Morrow
UCLA:
- G: Kiki Rice
- G: Londynn Jones
- F: Gabriela Jaquez
- F: Angela Dugalic
- C: Lauren Betts
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LSU women's basketball roster
LSU is the fourth-highest scoring offense in the country, and the highest-scoring team remaining in the women's NCAA Tournament, at 85.3 points per game. They are paced by a fearsome scoring trio of Aneesah Morrow, Flau'Jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, who score 18.8, 18.3 and 17.5 points per game, respectively. For a full breakdown of the Tigers' roster, click here.
Kim Mulkey outfit: LSU coach sports matching gold flower-designed outfit
Kim Mulkey is dressed to impress again for LSU's Elite Eight matchup against UCLA. See what Mulkey is wearing for tonight's game here.
LSU players warming up for Elite Eight matchup
LSU women's basketball players have taken the court to warm up ahead of today's Elite Eight matchup against UCLA. The winner advances to the Final Four.
Who is Lauren Betts? Meet UCLA women's basketball star
Who is UCLA women's basketball star Lauren Betts? Read John Leuzzi's story about the star from Centennial, Colorado and her path to leading the Bruins to the Elite Eight. UCLA is seeking its first women's NCAA Tournament Final Four and national championship in program history.
Flau’Jae Johnson rap career
LSU women's basketball star Flau'Jae Johnson is flourishing both on and off the court. Read Craig Meyer's story on the junior guard's rap career."
LSU women's basketball game today
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
LSU and UCLA are scheduled to tip off at 3 p.m. ET from the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington. The winner will advance to the women's Final Four and face the winner of Duke and South Carolina from the Birmingham 2 Regional.
LSU vs. UCLA women's basketball predictions
Below's a look at how experts from across the Paste BN Sports Network are picking Sunday's Elite Eight game between the Tigers and Bruins. For a full breakdown of the Elite Eight, click here.
- Meghan L. Hall, For The Win: UCLA
- Lulu Kesin, The Greenville News: LSU
- Cydney Henderson, Paste BN: UCLA
- Jenna Ortiz, Arizona Republic: UCLA
- Nancy Armour, Paste BN: UCLA
- Maxwell Donaldson, The Gadsden Times: LSU
Where to watch LSU vs. UCLA women's basketball
- TV channel: ABC
- Streaming: March Madness Live | ESPN app | Fubo (free trial)
ABC will air both of Sunday's Elite Eight games. Streaming options include March Madness Live and the ESPN app, both with a valid cable login. Another option is Fubo, which carries ABC and offers a free trial.
UCLA women's basketball roster
UCLA has an average 21.1-point margin of victory this season, good for sixth in the nation but also fifth among remaining women's NCAA Tournament teams. It's no secret the Bruins' dominance is centered around Betts, who leads the team in points (20.1), rebounds (9.7) and blocks (2.9) per game. Kiki Rice is also a capable scorer at 13.1 points per game, and leads the team in assists (five per game). Check out the Bruins' full roster here.