Lauren Betts scores a career-high 31 to lead No. 5 UCLA women past Colgate

Lauren Betts had a career-high 31 points and nine rebounds and No. 5 UCLA defeated Colgate 81-63 on Sunday in the Bruins’ home opener.

The Bruins (3-0) were back in action for the first time since beating No. 17 Louisville 66-59 in Paris on Monday to open the women’s college basketball season.

Playing down low, Betts shot 15 of 18 from the floor and scored the Bruins’ first 12 points of the fourth before sitting down for good with 3:25 remaining. Her only blemish in the period were two missed free throws. She was one of five from the free-throw line.

UCLA Sports

Lauren Betts leads UCLA to a season-opening victory over Louisville in Paris

Lauren Betts finishes with 18 points and four blocks as No. 5 UCLA overcomes a slow start to beat No. 17 Louisville 66-59 in its season opener in France.

Nov. 4, 2024

The Raiders (2-1) were led by Anne Bair with 13 points and five assists. Taylor Golembiewski added 12 points and five rebounds and Sophia Diehl had 10 points and five rebounds.

Takeaways

Colgate: Coach Ganiyat Adeduntan came up short against her mentor, UCLA coach Cori Close. Adeduntan played at Florida State from 2002 to 2006, when Close was an assistant for two seasons.

UCLA: The Bruins need to clean up their sloppy play quickly. They host No. 1 South Carolina in two weeks.

Key moment: UCLA stretched its lead from 11 points to 22 in the third quarter. Betts scored eight points and freshman Elina Aarnisalo added seven, including five in a row during a 7-0 spurt. Colgate’s Golembiewski and Christina Midgette picked up their third fouls and the Raiders didn’t have a field-goal attempt over the final minutes of the quarter.

Key stat: The Bruins committed 17 turnovers that led to 13 points for the Raiders. Aarnisalo had six and Londynn Jones four.

Up next: Colgate hosts Central Connecticut State on Friday. UCLA hosts Pepperdine on Tuesday in the second of four consecutive home games.