Women’s Basketball Gets Back to Business Before Elite Eight Battle with Duke Sunday

Sunday, March 29

Sacramento, Calif.

12:00 PM (PT)

UCLA

Duke

Charlisse Leger-Walker_Gianna Kneepkens (March 28, 2026)

Photo by: Ross Turteltaub

Women’s Basketball Gets Back to Business Before Elite Eight Battle with Duke Sunday

March 28, 2026 | Women's Basketball

UCLA Game Notes (PDF)Press Conference UCLA WBB Quotes (March 28, 2026)

SACRAMENTO – Less than 24 hours after defeating Minnesota 80-56 in the west regional semifinal, the No. 1-seed UCLA women's basketball team was quickly back to business on Saturday. The Bruins went through a practice and preparations at Golden 1 Center before meeting the media ahead of the Bruins (34-1) match-up with No.3-seed Duke on Sunday in Sacramento at 12:00 p.m. (PT) in an Elite Eight contest that will be nationally broadcast on ESPN and determine who will be going to the Final Four.

"This is a series of one-game opportunities," UCLA head coach Cori Close said. "We are just taking a really business-like approach, just like we do every game. 'What did it teach us; how does it make us better; how does it prepare us for the next match-up?' Then we move on to what it is going to look like to play our best basketball against Duke.

Blue Devils Up Next:
It is the Blue Devils, led by head coach Kara Lawson who now stand in front of UCLA and the Bruins second consecutive trip to the Final Four. Duke upset No. 2-seed Louisiana State University 87-85 on Friday in a thriller highlighted by Ashlon Jackson's game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer that rattled its way home.

"Wow," Close said when asked her reaction to Duke's win. "That win is a compliment to their team. Obviously, LSU is a really, really good team, and the fact that they were able to make that happen – I haven't seen that many go around the rim that much and go in. What a great moment. [Jackson] will never forget that."

Close is instructing her team to forget much of what happened the last time UCLA faced Duke, in what was an 89-59 Bruins victory on Nov. 27 in what was the eighth game of the season. That win over the Blue Devils kicked off the Bruins current 27-game winning streak.

"These are two completely different teams," Close said. "Credit to them, they have just done a marvelous job with their team and how they're playing right now and the connectivity that they're playing with."

Led by Toby Fournier (17.5 ppg, 8.0 rpg) and Jackson (11.5 ppg, 4.5 apg), Close is aware of the improvements the Blue Devils have made since they last met.

"I think Duke is an excellent team," Close said. "But I think we're a lot different and better, too. It's going to be a matter of who can play to their identity best. We have a lot of respect for them and we have a lot of confidence in ourselves."

UCLA guard Gianna Kneepkens agrees with Close that the earlier win over Duke will not provide much insight into the rematch.

"They're a new team. They've grown," Kneepkens said of Duke. "We're also a new team. We've grown, too."

Rice Helps Pave The Way
UCLA senior guard Kiki Rice led the way in scoring for the Bruins on Friday vs. Minnesota, scoring a game-high 21 points (7-12 FG, 1-1 3PT) and adding three assists. While Rice has put up career-high numbers in points, rebounds and field goal percentage this season, Close feels it is her intensity on the defensive end that she is the most proud of.

"She's taken a lot of pride in being a great defender, contributing on the glass," Close said. I think I would go to that, number one."

Rice underwent shoulder surgery in April of 2025 following the Final Four, and after a six-month layoff returned to the court.

"The way she just found intentional ways to grow," Close said about Rice's injury lay-off. "The extra film study, the way that she worked on her footwork with our strength coach. "She's just so intentional about everything that she does, and I think that is what is playing out for her."

That intentionality has shown in March, as Rice has become increasingly impactful when the lights shine a little brighter — a product of hours in the gym and a tight collaborative relationship with assistant coach Tasha Brown.

"She would be the first to give so much credit to her relationship with Tasha Brown," Close said. "They have a connection. Kiki can't get enough. Every single day I have to say, there will be no extra workouts today."

Defense as the Anchor
Against Minnesota on Friday, the Bruins struggled early on offense. But it was the defense, especially to start the third quarter that made the difference against the Golden Gophers.

"Our foundation has to be our defensive effort," Bruins guard Glanna Kneepkeins said. "It is inevitable that you're going to have a bad shooting game…When you can control your effort on defense, we can focus on that."

The Bruins forced Minnesota into shooting 38 percent from the field (22-of-58) and forced 15 turnovers.

One Shining Moment For Karamouzi
There were just 14 seconds left in the game, and her three-point shot from the corner would be the final points in the Bruins 24-point victory, but you would not have known it from the way the UCLA bench celebrated freshman Christina Karamouzi's fourth field goal of the season.

"We see Chrizzy in the gym every single day before practice, after practice, putting in the work," Bruins guard Charlisse Leger-Walker said. "There was no hesitation."

Close was excited for the freshman as well, sitting next to her on the bus and showing her the video of the moment.

"I showed her the clip of her making the shot and watching the bench react," Close said. "I told her, 'They react that way because they love you that much, and they're so excited to celebrate you because you have sacrificed for them, and they want to give you your moment."