UCLA Women's Basketball Trio Discuss NCAA Tournament Win

Lauren Betts, Angela Dugalić, and Amanda Muse reflect on their team's first-round victory over Cal Baptist.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 1:28pm

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After UCLA's 96-43 win over Cal Baptist in the first round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament, Bruins center Lauren Betts and reserves Angela Dugalić and Amanda Muse spoke with reporters about the team's strong rebounding performance, second-half adjustments, and individual contributions to the victory.

Why it matters

The Bruins' dominant win over Cal Baptist showcases their depth and rebounding prowess as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The players' comments provide insight into the team's mindset and strategies heading into the later rounds of the competition.

The details

UCLA outrebounded Cal Baptist 62-25, including 21 offensive boards that led to 30 second-chance points. Betts, Dugalić, and Muse combined for 25 rebounds, with Muse making an impressive tip-in basket in the first half. The players credited the team's work against the male scout team in practice for their rebounding success. Dugalić also noted that a players-only meeting at halftime helped spur the team's second-half turnaround after leading by just 10 points at the break.

  • The interviews took place on Saturday, March 22, 2026, after UCLA's first-round NCAA tournament victory over Cal Baptist.

The players

Lauren Betts

A center for the UCLA women's basketball team.

Angela Dugalić

A reserve player for the UCLA women's basketball team.

Amanda Muse

A reserve player for the UCLA women's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“That's something we take a lot of pride in is rebounding.”

— Lauren Betts

“I think a lot of people took accountability. I think it was just like, 'Hey, we know we're messing up right now, we need to fix this. We shouldn't act like this,' especially in March Madness where it's like a one-and-done type of thing.”

— Angela Dugalić

“Just been really focusing on getting rebounds and helping my team in that way. I know that I can use my length, and I love to do a tip-in so it just worked out well for me.”

— Amanda Muse

The takeaway

UCLA's dominant rebounding performance and players' accountability in the locker room at halftime demonstrate the team's depth, determination, and focus as they look to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament. The Bruins' ability to make adjustments and capitalize on their size and athleticism will be key as they advance in the competition.