UCLA Women’s Basketball Dominates Southern in NCAA Tournament Opener

LOS ANGELES — The UCLA women’s basketball team began their pursuit for the program’s inaugural Final Four appearance with a decisive 84-46 victory over Southern in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday night at Pauley Pavilion.

Lauren Betts contributed significantly with 14 points, six rebounds, and three blocked shots, while Londynn Jones added 11 points for the Bruins (31-2), who earned the tournament’s top overall seed. Janiah Barker made a notable impact off the bench, recording 10 points, 10 rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. In addition, Kiki Rice also scored 10 points and dished out seven assists, alongside Gabriela Jaquez who contributed 10 points.

“We emphasized that our team should play to win instead of playing not to lose,” said head coach Cori Close after the game. “When we are physical, communicative, and proactive, that’s when we perform at our peak.”

The Bruins are set to take on eighth-seeded Richmond (28-6) on Sunday at 7 p.m. at Pauley Pavilion, with a chance to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. Richmond secured their first NCAA Tournament win by defeating Georgia Tech, 74-49, thanks to a stellar performance from Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Maggie Doogan, who scored 30 points and grabbed 15 rebounds.

The 6-foot-4 Barker played a crucial role in a 9-0 run for UCLA to start the second half, and she celebrated the moment by blowing a kiss to the crowd as the Bruins took charge. “Sometimes the crowd can be challenging, so I blew them a kiss,” Barker remarked. “I’ve been filled with confidence lately, and I enjoyed that moment. Having fun out there leads to our best performance.”

Barker immediately made her presence felt with a blocked shot after entering the game, leading to a layup by Jaquez. Just moments later, she grabbed an offensive rebound and passed to Rice, who hit a 3-pointer, extending the Bruins’ 12-point halftime lead to 47-26. Rice, who managed to avoid turnovers against a Southern team known for its physical play, expressed the importance of preparation: “This week we worked hard on handling pressure. My focus is to take care of the ball and support my teammates.”

Aniya Gourdine led the 16th-seeded Southern (21-15) with 10 points. Gourdine highlighted the need for recognition of HBCUs, stating, “Many underestimate HBCUs and don’t believe we deserve a spot here. It’s crucial for those girls who aspire to attend an HBCU.” Southern struggled against UCLA’s defense, managing only 11 points in the first quarter, while UCLA built an early 12-point lead. Despite a late charge from Southern in the second quarter, the Bruins maintained control and dominated the third, outscoring the Jaguars 21-7, which allowed coach Close to manage the starters’ minutes for the remainder of the game. UCLA finished with a commanding rebounding advantage of 44-23, with eight players scoring at least nine points.