As South Carolina had more experience than UCLA coming into the national championship game, many analysts favored the Gamecocks over the Bruins. Bruins star center Lauren Betts reacted to this sentiment after she led UCLA to its first-ever NCAA National Championship in the March Madness era.
This was redemption not just for her, but for the program after being blown out by UConn last year.
On ESPN, every single analyst picked South Carolina, and during the postgame press conference, she was asked about it. Her response was:
“I’m pretty sure people had us losing, like… you know what, I don’t even care, we just won a championship, so you know what, I don’t really have much to say about that.”
Lauren Betts was a double-double machine this season, and fittingly, she ended her college career with one, getting 14 points, 11 rebounds plus two blocks to beat South Carolina 79-51 in a surprising blowout victory over one of the best women’s basketball teams in the country.
She ends her college career averaging 18.5 points and 7.6 rebounds per game this season, along with a team-leading 71 blocks.
Once she graduates, Lauren Betts is expected to enter the WNBA draft. She is projected to either be the No. 1 or No. 2 overall pick, with UConn’s Azzi Fudd being her potential rival for the top spot.
The Dallas Wings have that pick, and if they want to make star player Paige Bueckers happy, they may pick her girlfriend, Fudd, over Betts. However, many believe they may also pick Spanish center Awa Fam or actually go with Betts.
South Carolina Star Tessa Johnson All Praises For Lauren Betts
As for the Gamecocks, they were gracious in defeat, with head coach Dawn Staley saying that she was happy for UCLA head coach Cori Close. The same can be said for the players, as South Carolina guard Tessa Johnson was all praises for Lauren Betts in the post-game conference.
“She’s a very dominant player,” Johnson said. “She’s consistent and effective. It’s hard to scout that.”
While the Gamecocks also had a potent frontline, they had no answer for the dominant Betts, whose post presence posted a massive problem for that South Carolina frontcourt.
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