Then again \u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\nStaley said the 6-7 Betts\u2019 development into a complete player makes her a unique matchup challenge.<\/p>\n
\u201cA couple years ago you could kind of be real physical with her, she would kind of back down a little bit,\u201d Staley said. \u201cNow she embraces it, right? Now she welcomes it. She can play off of it so well. You have to make a decision whether you\u2019re going to double her, single cover her, whether you\u2019re going to triple her, then figure out how you\u2019re going to scramble out of that and prioritize who because they can shoot the basketball.<\/p>\n
\u201cLauren can see it all and is patient enough to read the defenses and pass the ball where it\u2019s supposed to go or bet on herself.\u201d<\/p>\nUCLA Bruins center Lauren Betts during the second half of a semifinal of the Final Four of the women\u2019s 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Texas Longhorns. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA repeat of history?<\/strong><\/h2>\nClose said the factor that determined the recent meetings between the Bruins and Gamecocks was which team rebounded the best and dictated play with its defense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been on both sides of that,\u201d Close said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s probably going to be that different.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the California Morning Report newsletter\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCalifornia’s top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThanks for signing up!\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\nPressure check<\/strong><\/h2>\nAfter committing a season-worst 23 turnovers against Texas, UCLA should expect a similarly disruptive style from a team that likes to impose its physical presence.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I\u2019m South Carolina,\u201d Close said, \u201cI would imagine we\u2019re going to see a lot of pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Close said there were only three possessions in the semifinal when her team got clean shots in rhythm. That number needs to increase exponentially for the Bruins to beat the Gamecocks.<\/p>\nJoyce Edwards of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on against the TCU Horned Frogs. Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPrediction<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe boogeying Bruins have come too far to make a misstep in their last dance.<\/p>\n
A team for the ages further solidifies its legacy, UCLA holding on for a 69-65 victory over the Gamecocks.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F2%2F2026%2F04%2Fnewspress-collage-i1t75n148-1775347715041.jpg?quality%3D90%26strip%3Dall%261775333840\")
<\/p>\n