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It wasn’t always pretty for the UCLA Bruins on Sunday but Cori Close’s team is back in the Final Four following their 70-58 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight win over the Duke Blue Devils.
Sunday’s game felt similar to last year’s UCLA team, which relied heavily upon on Lauren Betts’ greatness on both sides of the ball to get the win. While that strategy has gotten the Bruins to the Final Four in consecutive seasons, Betts can win a national title all alone.
Throughout the NCAA tournament, UCLA has gotten minimal production aside from Betts, Angela Dugalic and Kiki Rice. Even Rice struggled on Sunday, going 2-10 from the floor, matching her season-low with seven points.
Dugalic and Betts have both been extraordinary. Giving UCLA a pair of stout defenders down low while attacking the glass and changing shots. Dugalic scored 15 points and snatched two steals, allowing Betts to handle shot-blocking duties for the Bruins.
Betts became the UCLA program all-time leader in blocked shots, notching five on Sunday against the Blue Devils. Betts passed Monique Billings and now sits atop of the Bruin record books with 230 blocks in a Bruin uniform. The 6’7” Betts is up to 259 career blocks, with 29 coming as a freshman with Stanford.
Unsurprisingly, Betts has the most blocks in a single-season for UCLA as well. Her 100 blocks last year is a distant first place, with her current season being second 71 (and counting) and Billings is in third with 66. Betts’ sophomore season with UCLA is No. 5, as she notched 59 blocks.
Betts is a game-changing piece on the defensive end. UCLA has averaged 4.4 blocks per game and Betts accounts for nearly half of them with 2.0 per game. Now we’ll see if Betts’ presence in the paint can lead to a Final Four win for the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Lauren Betts is now UCLA's all-time leader in blocked shots
Continue reading...
Sunday’s game felt similar to last year’s UCLA team, which relied heavily upon on Lauren Betts’ greatness on both sides of the ball to get the win. While that strategy has gotten the Bruins to the Final Four in consecutive seasons, Betts can win a national title all alone.
Throughout the NCAA tournament, UCLA has gotten minimal production aside from Betts, Angela Dugalic and Kiki Rice. Even Rice struggled on Sunday, going 2-10 from the floor, matching her season-low with seven points.
Dugalic and Betts have both been extraordinary. Giving UCLA a pair of stout defenders down low while attacking the glass and changing shots. Dugalic scored 15 points and snatched two steals, allowing Betts to handle shot-blocking duties for the Bruins.
Betts became the UCLA program all-time leader in blocked shots, notching five on Sunday against the Blue Devils. Betts passed Monique Billings and now sits atop of the Bruin record books with 230 blocks in a Bruin uniform. The 6’7” Betts is up to 259 career blocks, with 29 coming as a freshman with Stanford.
UCLA’s best rim protector
With her third block in today’s game, Lauren Betts ties the school record for career blocks (228) by a Bruin!#GoBruinshttps://t.co/jSLDb5I70kpic.twitter.com/qpjJ5SAE6B
— UCLA Women's Basketball (@UCLAWBB) March 29, 2026
Unsurprisingly, Betts has the most blocks in a single-season for UCLA as well. Her 100 blocks last year is a distant first place, with her current season being second 71 (and counting) and Billings is in third with 66. Betts’ sophomore season with UCLA is No. 5, as she notched 59 blocks.
Betts is a game-changing piece on the defensive end. UCLA has averaged 4.4 blocks per game and Betts accounts for nearly half of them with 2.0 per game. Now we’ll see if Betts’ presence in the paint can lead to a Final Four win for the Bruins.
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Lauren Betts is now UCLA's all-time leader in blocked shots
Continue reading...
