After defeating previously unbeaten South Carolina on Sunday 77-62, junior center Lauren Betts had a strong message for the college basketball world.
“If you’ve been sleeping on UCLA, you need to stop right now!” Betts said on the broadcasts’ postgame interview Sunday.
The Bruins are now 5-0 on the season following their Sweet 16 loss to LSU in March Madness last season. Betts alongside junior guard Kiki Rice and the rest of the talented Bruins squad have set their goals a little higher this year.
“We worked our butts off all week,” Betts said following UCLA’s first-ever win against the #1 team in the country. “I’m just so happy, so proud of all of the work we put in. We really earned this.”
The Gamecocks limited Betts to just eight field goal attempts, as she hit five of them to score 11 points in the win. She was still able to impact the game, with a season-high 14 rebounds, four blocks and four assists.
“I’m surrounded by amazing teammates and we play so selfless and whenever their number is called, they’re just ready to go,” Betts said. “I’m just so proud of this team.”
Now for the first time in school history the Bruins are the top team in the country as they enter the Rainbow Wahine Showdown tournament in Hawaii this weekend where UCLA will face UT Martin, Fresno State and Hawaii.