Lauren Betts has another double-double as UCLA women cruise to win over Arkansas

In three straight games, Lauren Betts has had to be subbed out due to blood on her jersey. It has become somewhat of a usual occurrence over the last year for the junior UCLA center. She’s used to getting scratched and clawed under the basket, but what has changed over time is her response, as head coach Cori Close has noticed.

“A year ago, that would’ve been a distraction to her,” Close said. “It would’ve stopped her from playing. She would have gotten a frustration level and to me, watching that now … I just am so proud of her maturation process and her mental toughness.”

Arkansas game-planned specifically for Betts, who entered the game coming off a career-high 31-point performance followed by a 17-10 double-double. She finished the game with 20 points and 12 rebounds — her second consecutive double-double — as the No. 5-ranked Bruins cruised to a 101-52 win over the visiting Arkansas Razorbacks.

“I think this is the best team that I have played against, there’s just no holes,” said Arkansas head coach Mike Neighbors. “You can do a good job on Betts for a few minutes and you look up, and Timea (Gardiner)’s got four threes. You can game-plan all you want, there’s just not a weakness.”

Gardiner (23 points, three rebounds) and Angela Dugalic (18 points, 15 rebounds) were key in setting the tone early for UCLA, as Gardiner’s five three-pointers in the first quarter jump-started them to a 30-16 lead. Then, Betts arrived.

The Bruins took full control in the second as Betts got going with 10 points to go along with five rebounds in the quarter. UCLA outscored the Razorbacks 27-9 in a period that was bookended by 9-0 and 18-2 runs. Arkansas did not score any points from the 6-minute mark until the final 50 seconds of the second quarter, which was a testament to UCLA’s defensive dominance.

The Bruins held the Razorbacks to shooting 28% from the field and an abysmal 18% from three-point range. They scored 27 points off 18 turnovers, 11 of which came in the first half. UCLA outrebounded Arkansas 65-28, outscored them 54-16 in the paint, and doubled their assists with 22 compared with the Razorbacks’ 11. And according to Dugalic, those eye-popping numbers are by design.

It’s the Bruins’ collective goal in every game to grab 75% of the defensive misses and 40% of their own offensive rebounds.

“It was a really big emphasis for us, our rebounds,” Dugalic said. “Our whole mindset is just, ‘secure the ball.’ … As well as assists, it’s so easy to score when you just share the ball, move the ball around without dribbling. Someone’s bound to get open.”

Out of the 40 minutes of game time, UCLA led for 38:57. The stats go on, but simply put: It was a display of total domination in every facet of the game.

The Bruins stay undefeated through their first four games of the season. They’ll wrap up their current homestand Nov. 24 with what Close described as a “Final Four-level” matchup against South Carolina, the No. 1 team in the nation.

“I thought we made some really good steps today, but we’ve still got some growing to do,” Close said. “We have a great opportunity with South Carolina coming into this building. … I think it’s going to be an unbelievable atmosphere … It’s an awesome opportunity, but it’s just another step to develop championship habits, to have championship-level character, and to develop that toughness and grit.”