“I really expected us to win today,” declared Cori Close, UCLA’s coach. “I was calm all day. The important thing wasn’t whether we won or not. I wanted us to be able to give our best when it was necessary, and we did that.”
Alicia Tournebize’s quest for an NCAA title concluded without the ultimate prize, despite her UCLA team’s otherwise dominant season. While the championship slipped away, the Bruins’ coach, Cori Close, reflected on the outcome with a focus on effort and performance.
Leading the charge for the Bruins (who ended their season with an impressive 37-1 record), Gabriela Jaquez delivered a standout performance with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists. Center Lauren Betts, standing tall at 2.01 meters, also shone brightly, contributing 14 points and 11 assists to achieve her 15th double-double of the season. UCLA had entered the final contest on an incredible 31-game winning streak, showcasing their season-long dominance.
For the victorious Gamecocks, who finished their season 31-4, Tessa Johnson notched 14 points, and Agot Makeer added 11. Alicia Tournebize saw 15 minutes of play, during which she recorded 6 rebounds, 1 block, and 1 assist, but she was unable to score any points, going 0 for 3 from the field.
