Lauren Betts Stats Today: How did UCLA star fare vs Pepperdine? (Nov 12)
Lauren Betts bets on herself again as she leads the Bruins' charge against Pepperdine in a 37-point blowout Tuesday at the Pauley Pavilion.
The 6-foot-7 center put up numbers on the board, clinching 17 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. The third-year Bruin was a strong presence in the painted area, making 7-of-9 attempts on the field and converting all three free throws. Betts impressed by making all of her six shots in the first half, making her first miss only in the third frame.
Betts and Co. wowed the 3,898 spectators at home, as they initiated an 18-0 run after the opening tip, halted only by Ornela Muca's 3-pointer to end the hosts' hot start. Betts notched her 15th career double-double early in the third quarter, capturing four points and four boards in seven minutes.
The huge win enabled coach Cori Close to tinker with the depth chart and give some playing time to the reserves. Nine Bruins saw some time on the floor, with Janiah Barker leading all Bruins with 18 points and 11 rebounds.
The Bruins remain undefeated in three games played so far, starting the year by defeating Louisville in Paris and returning home to beat Colgate last Sunday.
While third-year star Kiki Rice and senior guard Charlisse Leger-Walker remain absent, the No. 5 team in women's basketball pulls through the challenges, securing their second double-digit win.
UCLA has a long rest as they face Arkansas on Sunday night, followed by a showdown against South Carolina in Pauley Pavilion on November 24.
Lauren Betts shows no sign of slowing down in junior year with UCLA
The absences of Rice and Leger-Walker affect the offensive load of the Bruins, as they will figure out how to compensate for the unavailability of the two aces who both averaged 13.2 points last year.
Cori Close started her 14th campaign with the Bruins by making Betts the center of the offense. Betts averaged 14.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, one assist and two blocks over a 29-game campaign last season, where the Bruins reached the Elite Eight before folding to the LSU Tigers.
It's a bit early to assess, but Betts saw an uptick in all statistical categories in just three games in the season. She has averaged 22 points, 11.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.7 blocks and one steal this season.
With Betts' hot start early in the 2024-2025 campaign, the Bruins appear to be headed to a brilliant season, potentially making a deep run into March Madness.