Lauren Betts Shines with 16 Points and Rebounds in UCLA’s Win Over Michigan
UCLA Tops Michigan in Nail-Biting 69-66 Showdown
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Lauren Betts showcased her all-around prowess with 16 points, 16 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, leading No. 2 UCLA to a 69-66 victory over No. 8 Michigan on Sunday.
In a dramatic finish, the Wolverines trailed by 11 points with under two minutes remaining but managed to rally back, ultimately coming up short. With just 2.2 seconds on the clock, Syla Swords attempted a three-pointer to tie the game but missed, allowing UCLA to secure the win.
With this victory, UCLA improved its record to 23-1 overall and 13-0 in the Big Ten, taking a two-game lead over Michigan, which now stands at 20-4 and 11-2 in the conference. This marks UCLA’s 17th consecutive win since their only loss to No. 4 Texas in November.
The Bruins demonstrated their offensive prowess by outscoring Michigan by 14 points during the second and third quarters, achieving their NCAA-best ninth victory against an Associated Press Top 25 team this season. UCLA’s gritty defense, coupled with Betts’ standout performance, proved to be too much for Michigan, ending the Wolverines’ school-record nine-game winning streak in Big Ten play.
Betts excelled on both ends of the court, making eight of 17 field goal attempts while blocking or altering opponent shots. She also effectively set up her teammates, drawing double teams and creating opportunities for scoring.
Supporting Betts, Kiki Rice scored 20 points, while Gabriela Jaquez and Gianna Kneepkens contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. For Michigan, Olivia Olson led with 20 points, followed by Mila Holloway with 15 and Te’Yala Delfosse with 10. Swords struggled, finishing with only eight points on 10 attempts.
The highly anticipated matchup drew a season-high crowd of 6,108 to Crisler Center, generating excitement just hours before the Super Bowl.
