UCLA Bruins Advance to Elite Eight in March Madness

Top-seeded UCLA defeats Minnesota 80-56 to reach second straight regional final

Mar. 28, 2026 at 8:05am

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The UCLA Bruins women's basketball team defeated the Minnesota Gophers 80-56 in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Led by Kiki Rice's 21 points and a dominant performance from star center Lauren Betts, the Bruins advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year. UCLA opened the second half with an 8-0 run and never let Minnesota get within single digits again, holding the Gophers to just 37.9% shooting.

Why it matters

UCLA's victory extends their impressive March Madness run after reaching the Final Four last season. The Bruins are seeking to build on that success and compete for a national championship this year. Minnesota's Sweet 16 appearance marks a significant milestone for their program, though they hope to make deep tournament runs a more regular occurrence.

The details

The Bruins led for over 38 minutes of the game, shaking off a late second-quarter push by Minnesota to take a 34-29 lead at halftime. UCLA then opened the second half with an 8-0 run to pull away, limiting the Gophers to their third-lowest scoring total of the season. Rice shot 7-of-12 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line, while Betts recorded a 16-point, 5-block performance.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Sacramento, California.

The players

Kiki Rice

A standout guard for the UCLA Bruins, Rice scored a team-high 21 points in the win over Minnesota.

Lauren Betts

UCLA's star center, Betts put up 16 points, 5 blocks, and controlled the paint against the Gophers.

Amaya Battle

A senior guard for the Minnesota Gophers, Battle reacted after her team's season-ending loss in the Sweet 16.

Dawn Plitzuweit

The head coach of the Minnesota Gophers, Plitzuweit expressed pride in her team's accomplishments this season.

Cori Close

The head coach of the UCLA Bruins, Close praised her team's defensive intensity and focus on the next game.

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What they’re saying

“We found another way to go 1-0.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Head Coach

“It's really cool to reach the Sweet 16, but I'm hoping this becomes the standard. It feels nice to do this, but we should be doing this every year.”

— Amaya Battle, Minnesota Senior Guard

“We have been approaching this very businesslike. We learned a lot from last year about not being happy with how far we get. We want to win it all. We will do our celebrating for this win, but we've got to focus on the next one.”

— Lauren Betts, UCLA Center

What’s next

The Bruins will face either Duke or LSU in the Elite Eight as they continue their quest for a national championship.

The takeaway

UCLA's dominant performance against Minnesota showcases their depth and determination to build on last season's Final Four appearance. The Bruins' focus on defense and controlling the paint has made them a formidable force in the NCAA Tournament, as they aim to capture their first women's basketball title.