Lauren Betts Sets School Record in No. 3 UCLA’s Win Over No. 25 Illinois
Lauren Betts returned to the court for UCLA after missing a game due to a right foot injury. No longer wearing a walking boot, she made an immediate impact, scoring the game’s first basket and blocking a shot moments later.
Betts led all scorers with 22 points, adding seven rebounds and six blocks in UCLA’s 70-55 victory over Illinois at Pauley Pavilion. With this performance, she set a new single-season school record for blocks, surpassing Monique Billings’ previous mark of 66 in just 23 games.
Illinois coach Shauna Green praised Betts, calling her a “generational player” and the best post player in the country. Betts played 34 minutes, displaying strong post moves and scoring efficiently. UCLA focused its offense around her early to exploit Illinois’ size disadvantage.
Despite the win, UCLA continued to struggle with consistency. After nearly being upset by Michigan State in their previous game, the Bruins found it difficult to pull away from Illinois in the second half. Coach Cori Close expressed disappointment in the team’s recent performances, attributing their struggles to a lack of energy and urgency since their lone loss to USC.
Illinois, which had only eight available players due to injuries, managed to cut UCLA’s lead to 43-39 by the end of the third quarter. They also outrebounded the Bruins 16-13 on the offensive glass. However, UCLA responded in the fourth quarter, outscoring Illinois 27-16 to secure its eighth victory over a ranked opponent this season.
UCLA (25-1, 13-1 Big Ten) dominated inside, scoring 46 points in the paint. Kiki Rice contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists. The Bruins’ defense played a key role in the win, recording 10 blocks, 10 steals, and forcing 16 turnovers. Gabriela Jaquez led the team with three steals, helping to disrupt Illinois’ offense.
The game saw an unfortunate injury when UCLA’s Janiah Barker collided with Betts in the second quarter. Barker attempted to return after halftime but was ultimately ruled out with what Close described as a “lower-leg situation.”
UCLA now looks ahead to a crucial matchup against Iowa in front of a sold-out crowd.