Lauren Betts and Gabriela Jaquez lead No. 4 UCLA past Nebraska 85-74 as Bruins reach Big Ten semis

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UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) pulls down a rebound from Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) drives on Nebraska forward Jessica Petrie (12) and Alexis Markowski (40) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) shoots on Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA center Lauren Betts, center, drives between Nebraska forward Petra Bozan, left, and Kendall Coley, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) fouls UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA forward Timea Gardiner (30), Lauren Betts (51), Gabriela Jaquez (11) and Kiki Rice (1) talk against Nebraska during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and Nebraska guard Alberte Rimdal (5) battle for a loose ball with Timea Gardiner, right, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) shoots on Nebraska forward Petra Bozan (44) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) and UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) battle for the ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Nebraska guard Callin Hake, seated on floor, reacts with teammates to a UCLA offensive foul during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Nebraska guard Alberte Rimdal (5) drives on UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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UCLA guard Kiki Rice (1) shoots on Nebraska center Alexis Markowski (40) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis, Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

By MICHAEL MAROT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Lauren Betts finished with 28 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocks and Gabriela Jaquez added a season-high 23 points and nine rebounds as No. 4 UCLA reached the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals on Friday night with an 85-74 victory over Nebraska.

Kiki Rice had 14 points and nine assists to help the Bruins (28-2) rebound from last weekend’s loss to crosstown rival Southern California. UCLA will face No. 13 Ohio State, a 60-59 winner over three-time defending tourney champ Iowa, the No. 11 seed.

Nebraska (21-11) played its third game in three days after earning the No. 10 seed. Britt Prince led the Cornhuskers with 24 points and Alex Markowski scored 11.

The Bruins struggled to pull away until breaking a 47-47 tie early in the third quarter with a 13-2 run. They finally sealed it with seven straight points to make it 71-60 with 5:36 to play.

Takeaways

Nebraska: The Cornhuskers certainly didn’t show much weariness, repeatedly charging back every time it appeared UCLA was about to take control. It should help them into the NCAA Tournament.

UCLA: It wasn’t the Bruins most complete effort of the season, but Betts played like a dominant All-American, Jaquez had her top offensive game this season and Rice was a solid third option. If those three play well again Saturday, they may get a rematch with USC.

Not PARSE.LY: Nebraska Cornhuskers

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Key moment

When Nebraska cut the deficit to 62-58 early in the fourth, Betts and Jaquez and Rice combined for all of the points in a 9-2 spurt.

Key stat

The Bruins held a 16-8 offensive rebounding edge and outscored Nebraska 17-6 in second-chance points.

Up next

UCLA will go for a two-game sweep of the Buckeyes (25-5) in the second semifinal game while the Cornhuskers await their postseason fate.

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