UCLA women’s basketball coach Cori Close gave star player Lauren Betts her moment on Sunday night, and she made the most of it. The Bruins took an 84-67 win over Richmond, with Betts scoring a career-high 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.
Betts, who is 6-foot-8, is a matchup nightmare for opposing teams. She creates a mismatch that has been key to UCLA’s success this season. Close praised Betts’ ability to dominate on both offense and defense, saying she is “an absolute generational player” and “the difference-maker” in games.
Against Richmond, Betts was the catalyst for UCLA’s second-half surge. The Bruins stayed close at halftime, but once Betts took over, they pulled away. The Spiders scored only seven points in the third quarter, and the Bruins ultimately won convincingly.
Betts’ performance also earns her a spot among the all-time greats at center, according to former Laker Mychal Thompson. When informed of the tweet, Betts was left speechless but grateful for the praise.
The win is UCLA’s ticket to the Sweet 16, where they will look to redeem themselves after their exit last year against LSU. The Bruins head to Spokane, Washington, with a renewed sense of purpose and determination.
Source: https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/44381290/lauren-betts-powers-ucla-sweet-16-30-points-14-rebounds-march-madness-win-vs-richmond