UCLA hold off Texas in slugfest to set up title game matchup with South Carolina

• Bruins to play for first championship in program history

• As it happened: UCLA 51-44 Texas

Lauren Betts had 16 points and made a huge block in the final minutes, and UCLA withstood a late charge by Texas on Friday night for a 51-44 win to reach the national championship game of the women’s NCAA Tournament for the first time.

Manhandled by eventual national champion UConn in their first Final Four a year ago, the Bruins (36-1) dominated their way to another national semi-final with the best season in program history.