UCLA center Lauren Betts rises up to block a shot from Minnesota center Sophie Hart with her left hand.
Minnesota center Sophie Hart (52) tries to shoot over UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) during a Sweet 16 game at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif., on March 27, 2026. (Photo credit: Ed Szczepanski | Imagn Images)

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Cori Close had warned the UCLA Bruins that a game like Friday’s was coming, recently in fact.

After the Bruins defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes in the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament a couple of weeks ago by shooting 50% from 3-point range, their head coach told them they needed to be prepared for a game when their shooting went cold.


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David has been with The IX Basketball team since the High Post Hoops days when he joined the staff in 2018. He is based in Los Angeles and covers the LA Sparks, Pac-12 Conference, Big West Conference and...