Sports/UCLA Women’s Basketball Team—
The UCLA Bruins’ tough women’s basketball team woke up this morning not as hopefuls or wannabes, but as NCAA champions! In a powerful show of talent, skill, and dominance, the UCLA Lady Bruins beat the South Carolina Gamecocks 79–51 to capture the national title in Phoenix yesterday. UCLA came into the game as an underdog to the mighty Gamcocks. No matter, fate was with the Bruins, who were shooting and scoring from here, there, and everywhere on the court.
It is the first time in the NCAA era, which began in the 1981-82 season, that the Lady Bruins reached the Final Four and went on to win the championship. Quite a triumph for this team and its veteran head coach, Cori Close. A big celebration for their historic win is planned for this Wednesday, April 8, on campus at i Pauley Pavilion at 6 pm. Doors open at 5 pm Also, this will be the official farewell to UCLA for five senior starters — Lauren Betts, Kiki Rice, Gabriela Jaquez, Charlisse Leger-Walker, and Gianna Kneepkens. The next stop for these talented seniors will probably be the upcoming WNBA draft.
