LOS ANGELES - UCLA senior Lauren Betts is still a force to be reckoned with and as no. 4 UCLA's win over Oregon on Sunday proved, Betts makes an impact no matter what her opponents throw at her.
Teams across the NCAA have been made painfully aware of how dangerous the six-foot-seven center can be after last season when she dominated the NCAA with her skill and size to average 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game and earn multiple All-American selections. In response, Betts now finds herself double or triple teamed in every single game as she pulls all the focus of her opponent's defenders and fights for her life under the basket.
As a result, Betts has shifted her role from primary scorer to playmaker for much of this season, attracting defenders and setting up opportunities for her teammates.
"Lauren Betts has an absolute thankless job," UCLA head coach Cori Close said after UCLA's Nov. 30 win against Tennessee. "Draw triple teams every single time. Get fouled before you even touch the ball... Lauren has to sacrifice a lot. And I just made a big deal in the locker room about, 'Don't listen to anybody that talks about anything other than, you make winning plays for our team.' The way she's able to switch and guard. The way she alters shots. The way she rebounds. The way she sets screens for some of those players, especially Kiki [Rice]... so other people benefit."
It's been a winning formula, but Betts has also found her own ways to contribute on the scoresheet and broke out in a big away against the Ducks with season-highs in points with 24 and rebounds with 12.
Both Betts and Close credited a film session the two had earlier in the week for Betts' improvement in getting the ball in more often. The Bruins as a whole stepped it upanother notch as well when it came to setting Betts up with passes that led to her success.
"I watched film with Lauren this morning and watching her put some things into practice that we looked at in film, those are all the things I celebrate as a coach, is those growth areas," Close said. "I will also give the team credit that we've really focused on getting paint touches off the post, and I thought we did a much better job today [of] finding touches for Lauren specifically. But, not just Lauren, but in general."
The celebrations Betts received last season as one of the nation's best players has now turned into notoriety that's made her a target on the court. She can clearly still dominate despite the newfound pressure against her, but by trusting in her team around her to set her up with shots the same way she's been able to set them up, even more success will follow.
"I think it's just trusting myself and having patience. Sometimes, when I know that the double team is coming I can get rushed. I think that just messes with how I play," Betts said. "Continuing to know where my teammates are and reading that and just being patient, I think that's the most important thing."