The UCLA women's basketball team has largely coasted through the NCAA Tournament and into the Elite Eight. While the Bruins have gotten out to a slow start in the first half of each contest, they have been able to rally in the second half and win by 14 or more in each of their three games.
Junior center Lauren Betts has been the main catalyst for UCLA all year, but she has taken her game to new heights in the postseason. Against Ole Miss on Friday, she scored 31 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, dished out two assists, and blocked three shots.
Her performance in the Sweet 16 put her in elite company, as she achieved something that no other player in women's college basketball has done since 2013.
Lauren Betts is in legendary company with historic NCAA Tournament
Betts' 30-point, 10-rebound double-double in the Regional Semifinal was her second such game in the NCAA Tournament, which put her in elite company. She is now one of just three players in the last 25 years to have multiple 30-point, 10-rebound performances in one postseason.
The other two players are the legendary Brittney Griner and Elena Delle Donne, who achieved this feat in 2013 and 2012, respectively.
Now, the Bruins will take on No. 3 seed LSU in the Elite 8 in what will be a highly emotional matchup. The Tigers were the team that eliminated UCLA just a season ago, but they have not seen the Bruins and star center Lauren Betts in their current state.
For anyone who has reservations about cheering for Betts and UCLA, because they are the No. 1 overall seed, I would encourage those people to read ESPN's feature on her. What she is doing this season for the Bruins is not just historic on the court, but she has made an impact in immeasurable ways off of it.
It's hard to cheer against a player and person of her caliber, no matter what team you have an allegiance to.
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