Lauren Betts Leads UCLA to Sweet 16 Victory Over Richmond

Lauren Betts, UCLA's 6-foot-7 All-America center, delivered an outstanding performance in the Bruins' 84-67 victory over Richmond, scoring 30 points and grabbing 14 rebounds. Following the game, Betts was compared to legends Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton by Mychal Thompson, a former Lakers player, who ranked her as the third-best UCLA center in history. Betts expressed her astonishment at the comparison, emphasizing her focus on leading UCLA, the top seed in the women's NCAA Tournament, toward their first championship title. Her head coach, Cori Close, praised her as a generational player with exceptional skills on both offensive and defensive ends. Teammate Kiki Rice highlighted Betts' impact on the game, stating it simplifies their gameplay. UCLA advances to the Sweet 16, marking their third consecutive appearance in this round of the tournament.