Lauren Betts has led the UCLA Bruins’ attack this season, averaging 16.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.1 blocks per game. She has guided the Bruins to a 13-1 record (3-0 in Big Ten) and a No. 4 AP Top 25 poll ranking for Week 8. Betts’ play also earned her an invitation to the senior national team training camp with WNBA stars and collegiate standouts.
Building on her standout season, Betts maximized her three-day training camp at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, which was highlighted by a valuable conversation with Indiana Fever center Aliyah Boston. Boston shared advice that Betts now applies to her development as a women’s basketball player.
Aliyah Boston Encourages Lauren Betts To Shoot Mid-Range Jumpers
Betts shared Boston’s advice after UCLA’s 97-61 win over Penn State in State College, Pennsylvania. When asked about influences on her mid-range game, Betts cited Boston and their recent discussion at training camp.
Betts said Boston not only watches her games closely but also believes in her potential. Boston noticed Betts tends to doubt her mid-range game and encouraged her to trust herself and take those shots with confidence so she can truly extend her range.
“She was telling me ‘Lauren I don’t care what happens in the game. If you miss 10 layups. If you’re open around that mid-range shoot the ball like stop and trust yourself,'” the UCLA center said.
Betts said it was cool to hear her idol had watched her throughout her college career and shared advice on how to develop her game.
Betts Reaches 1,500 Career Points in UCLA’s 36-Point Win Over Penn State
Betts achieved a career milestone on Wednesday while leading the No. 4 UCLA to a 97-61 victory over Penn State. The 6’7″ slotman dropped 25 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the floor to spearhead the Bruins’ offense in dispatching the Nittany Lions.
Betts, who also finished with seven rebounds and two assists, reached 1,500 career points by making the front end of her two free throws at the 7:47 mark in the first quarter. She would score an additional 22 points to conclude her day at 1,522 career points.
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The win improved the Bruins’ record to 3-0 in the Big Ten Conference and 13-1 overall. It was also the seventh straight win for UCLA after losing to Texas on November 26.
Gianna Kneepkens added 17 points, Kiki Rice scored 16 and Sienna Betts 10 for the Bruins, who had the upper hand in most of the encounter. Kneepkens and Rice knocked down consecutive 3-pointers in the first few minutes of the game to give UCLA a 13-2 advantage and didn’t look back to secure the victory.
Gracie Merkle had 15 points, and Kiyomi McMiller scored 13 for Penn State, which fell to their third straight loss and 7-7 (0-3 in Big Ten) overall. The defeat also dropped the Nittany Lions to 1-15 against AP Top 10 teams since coach Carolyn Kieger’s first season in 2019.
UCLA will next play on Jan. 3 against the No. 17 USC Trojans in a highly anticipated women’s college basketball rivalry clash, while Penn State visits Wisconsin on Jan. 4.