ALBANY, N.Y. — The Bruins have never beaten the Huskies in program history. But over the years, a tradition was born. “I do get a bottle of wine from (UConn coach Geno Auriemma) most of the time,” said coach Cori Close. Read more...

Photo: UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close (right) chats with UConn coach Geno Auriemma at the Bruins’ shootaround on Thursday afternoon. The two teams will face off in the Sweet 16 on Friday night in the Albany regional of the NCAA tournament. (Alice Naland/Daily Bruin)

This post was updated March 25 at 2:45 p.m. COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Japreece Dean made sure to shoot Lindsey Corsaro a text Saturday evening. The senior guard wanted to congratulate Corsaro – a redshirt freshman guard – on a career-high performance in her first NCAA tournament game. Read more...

Photo: Senior guard Japreece Dean finished with 14 points, five assists and three rebounds in Saturday’s win over Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (Alice Naland/Daily Bruin)

This post was updated March 23 at 1:40 p.m. COLLEGE PARK, Md. — Lindsey Corsaro got elbowed, stuffed some tissues in for her bloody nose and ran back onto the court. Read more...

Photo: Redshirt freshman guard Lindsey Corsaro notched a career-high 18 points to go along with four rebounds and four assists in her first NCAA tournament game, helping UCLA women’s basketball defeat Tennessee and advance to the second round. (Alice Naland/Daily Bruin)

The Bruins may be on the road, but they still made time to get their nails done together before the Big Dance. “Being a good road team is really hard,” said coach Cori Close. Read more...

Photo: After hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament the last three years, No. 6 seed UCLA women’s basketball will take on No. 11 seed Tennessee in the First Round in College Park, Maryland, on Saturday. (Alice Naland/Daily Bruin)

After graduating a decorated class of seniors, the Bruins were picked to finish sixth in the Pac-12 this season. “That’s when the outside world kind of started talking about, ‘Oh, it’s going to be a rebuilding year for UCLA, they’re going to have a rough year,’” said redshirt senior guard Chrissy Baird. Read more...

Japreece Dean was assured by coach Cori Close after Saturday’s loss. “(Close) just told me to move on,” said the senior guard. “We just have more basketball to play, and I think that’s what she really emphasizes is that this is not the end.” After falling in what would have been an overtime upset over then-No. Read more...

Photo: Senior guard Japreece Dean is comforted by UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close and Oregon coach Kelly Graves after a semifinal loss at the Pac-12 tournament. (Alice Naland/Daily Bruin)