After a fantastic start to the season, UCLA head coach Cori Close had high praise for junior center Lauren Betts in a press conference last week.
Through four games, all Bruins wins, Betts is averaging 21.5 points, 11.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. Betts was named Big Ten player of the week last week, becoming the first-ever Bruins player in program history to win the award.
“The thing I’m most happy about with Lauren is her steadiness through the adversity. Almost every game we’ve had to take her out because she had blood on her jersey. She’s just getting scratched and clawed,” Close said. “A year ago, that would have been a distraction for her and it would have stopped her from playing, she would have gotten a frustration level. Just me watching that now, now three straight games we’ve had to change her jersey or to get blood off of it and she just keeps on going.”
Betts’ determination has been key for UCLA with junior guard Kiki Rice only having played 11 minutes so far this season.
“I’m just proud of her maturation process and her mental toughness,” Close said of the Stanford transfer in her second season with the Bruins. “I truly believe Lauren Betts will be a future Olympian and she’ll be a top pick in the WNBA draft someday.”
Betts will be put to the test on Sunday against the #1 team in the country with UCLA hosting South Carolina.