Southern’s Tionna Lidge barely jumped for the opening tip. With UCLA’s Lauren Betts on the opposite facet, the consequence appeared inevitable.
Betts had 14 factors and 6 rebounds Friday as No. 1-seeded UCLA cruised to an 84-46 win over No. 16 Southern within the first spherical of the NCAA event at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA set a program document for the biggest margin of victory in an NCAA event sport, besting a 75-43 thrashing of Texas A&M in 2017.
With only one starter taller than 5 toes 10, Southern had no solutions for Betts and UCLA’s deep roster. The Bruins aren’t the No. 1 general seed for no purpose, Southern guard DaKiyah Sanders stated nonchalantly. Betts has been the driving drive behind UCLA’s record-setting season and can dominate each opposition’s scouting report because the Bruins proceed their chase for this system’s first NCAA title.
“Lauren is a cheat code,” stated ahead Janiah Barker, who had 10 factors and 10 rebounds because the Bruins boasted six double-digit scorers.
The Bruins (31-2) superior to host No. 8 seed Richmond within the second spherical of Spokane Area 1 at 7 p.m. on Sunday (ESPN). The Spiders (28-6) received their first NCAA event sport in program historical past by dominating No. 9 Georgia Tech 74-49 behind 30 factors, 15 rebounds and 6 assists from ahead Maggie Doogan.
Since their game-changing switch got here to Westwood final yr, the Bruins have fully shifted their type of play. Earlier than Betts, they had been starting to embrace a five-out, movement offense widespread amongst worldwide and NBA groups. They spent the earlier two offseasons relentlessly drilling put up entry passes. Coaches wouldn’t enable various possessions in a row with out the ball touching Betts’ palms within the paint.
UCLA’s Lauren Betts seems to cross over Southern’s Tionna Lidge, left, and Aniya Gourdine in the course of the Bruins’ win Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)
Studying to play with such a particular participant has been a straightforward and welcome task, stated Barker, a first-year switch from Texas A&M. The 6-foot-7 Betts is simply as expert as she is tall.
“Teams can’t really guard her,” stated level guard Kiki Rice, who had 10 factors and 7 assists. “I think we got to continue to feed her the ball. She makes the right plays. I think she’s really, really improved her passing. …. She’s seeing so many bodies, finding all the shooters we have on the perimeter. It’s really difficult for people to game plan for her.”
Betts had 4 assists, tied with Barker for the second most behind Rice. However Rice’s most vital stat was her zero turnovers.
The Bruins turned the ball over seven occasions in the course of the second quarter, permitting Southern to chop into UCLA’s 20-point lead. Crowded by a double workforce, Betts was referred to as for a journey and Southern guard Taniya Lawson transformed the turnover right into a pull-up jumper on the following possession to maneuver the Jaguars to inside 12 factors. A small however boisterous Southern cheering part behind the workforce’s bench waved blue-and-gold pompoms and an ornamental umbrella.
Betts shortly quieted them, preventing by way of a double workforce on the following possession and ending by way of contact to finish Southern’s eight-point scoring streak.
Betts, the Large Ten defensive participant of the yr, shut down a smaller Southern workforce together with her size. She was introduced as considered one of 4 finalists for the Naismith defensive participant of the yr Friday. Throughout a season crammed with historic firsts for the Bruins, Betts added one other this week as she was named this system’s first Related Press first-team All-American.
“Everything that goes on and everything that pops up in my career and all the accomplishments, I think truly it’s such a blessing and I’m super grateful,” Betts stated.
Regardless of the load of the historic second, UCLA coach Cori Shut stated she obtained just one or two textual content messages about Betts’ All-American accolade because it was introduced Wednesday. What the coach heard extra about was a Sports activities Illustrated story by which Betts shared how she rediscovered her pleasure with the Bruins, overcoming crushing self-doubt and years of bullying.
“There is a level of freedom in her,” Shut stated earlier than Friday’s sport. “I just think when you are completely authentic and willing to share your story for the sake of others, it releases a burden from your shoulders.”
UCLA guard Kiki Rice, proper, is fouled by Southern ahead DeMya Porter, middle, as she drives the lane in entrance of teammate Angela Dugalic, left, on Friday.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Instances)
Betts has carried a big weight on and off the court docket. Between countless interview requests and lessons — the Bruins simply completed finals this week — the star additionally has managed identify, picture and likeness obligations. She and Rice had been featured in an AT&T business that debuted in the course of the event.
After Friday’s first-round sport, Betts was swept straight to the sideline to do a tv interview. With the remainder of her teammates already within the locker room, Betts turned to hurry off the court docket as quickly as she took off the headset. However out of the nook of her eye, she noticed two younger women ready with a pen in hand.
Betts U-turned and bent down on the desk to signal their posters.
