The crowd at Pauley Pavilion rose as one as the seconds ticked down. This second half deserved a standing ovation.

UCLA claimed an 84-67 win over No. 8-seed Richmond in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday, using an extended 23-2 run in the third quarter to blow open a close game and advance to a third consecutive Sweet 16. The tournament’s No. 1 overall seed will face No. 5 Mississippi in the Regional 1 semifinal in Spokane, Wash., on Friday. Mississippi upset No. 4 Baylor 69-63 in the second round.

Lauren Betts had 30 points on 14-of-17 shooting with 14 rebounds in a performance so dominant that Lakers great Mychal Thompson posted on X that among UCLA centers, the new rankings are 1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 2. Bill Walton and 3. Betts.

“She’s an absolute generational player,” coach Cori Close said.

As Betts handled double and triple teams down low, she got a boost from Kiki Rice on the perimeter, the point guard finishing with 23 points and seven assists. The junior has racked up 14 assists to just one turnover in two NCAA tournament games and hit a career-high four three-pointers Sunday to unlock a new level of UCLA’s offense that could carry the Bruins to their first Final Four.

“I call her the ‘Point God,’” Betts said. “She’s really, like, that girl.”

Rice drained two three-pointers in the critical third quarter that delighted the crowd of 6,119. While it was short of the sellout that Close was hoping for, the crowd still produced what guard Londynn Jones estimated was the loudest moment of the year. The roar after she hit her first three-pointer to put the Bruins up 47-41 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter was ear-splitting.

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1. UCLA guard Gabriela Jaquez shoots during Sunday’s win over Richmond. 2. UCLA guard Kiki Rice celebrates after making a three-pointer during the second half against Richmond. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After the Bruins forced a shot-clock violation two possessions later, forward Janiah Barker clenched both fists and waved both arms to the crowd for more noise. At one point, UCLA players couldn’t even hear each other speak in the huddle.

“Their energy and how they carried us, especially in the third quarter, to bring us that extra boost, we really appreciated that,” Rice said of the crowd. “Given that it’s spring break right now, there’s not a ton of students on campus, it means so much for us for so many people to show up.”

UCLA players circled the court and saluted fans after they polished off a second consecutive season with just one loss at home. They needed every bit of the crowd’s energy to fight off Richmond after the Spiders (28-7) finished the second quarter on a 7-0 run to tie the score 36-36 by halftime.

Forward Maggie Doogan had 16 points in the first half and finished with 27 points, six rebounds and seven assists. The Atlantic 10 player of the year is the ideal catalyst for Richmond’s high-octane offense that never rests. Players slash toward the basket and curl around screens, forcing defenses into difficult switching scenarios. Each missed defensive rotation was exposed with an impeccably placed pass.

The Bruins (32-2) clamped down on Doogan in the third quarter, holding her to just two points while UCLA outscored the Spiders 29-7.

Although Betts and Rice dominated, the Bruins’ role players quietly starred by helping keep Doogan off balance. Angela Dugalic, a 6-foot-4 forward, started guarding Doogan. Janiah Barker was first off the bench and had eight rebounds and four assists. Timea Gardiner chipped in with 11 points, including three three-pointers, and two blocks. Freshman Kendall Dudley, playing in only her second NCAA tournament game, had five rebounds and three assists.

A transcendent talent at center and point guard sent from the heavens are only the start of UCLA’s championship aspirations.

“We have two big dogs up here, and they do so much for us,” Close said, sitting on the dais next to Betts and Rice. “But they know that it’s our team that matters, and the selflessness and work ethic that goes along with it.”