Lauren Betts and Charisma Osborne power No. 5 UCLA to comeback over No. 3 Colorado
UCLA sophomore center Lauren Betts wasn’t bothered by her hyped-up homecoming, the Buffaloes’ swarming defense, her tough shooting night or the largest crowd that ever witnessed a Colorado women’s basketball game.
Betts overcame all of that to score 20 points and grab 13 rebounds, leading fifth-ranked UCLA to a 76-68 victory over third-ranked Colorado on Friday night in the first top-five matchup in the country this season.
Betts made five of six shots in the second half after going three for 10 before halftime, her seven misses more than she’d had in any game this season, as UCLA overcame an early nine-point deficit.
Charisma Osborne added 22 points for the Bruins (15-1, 4-1 Pac-12), who rebounded from a loss to USC last weekend that knocked them from the unbeaten ranks and dropped them from No. 2 in the country. They handed the Buffaloes (15-2, 5-1) their first loss at home.
UCLA’s athletic department posted a deficit of $36.6 million for the 2023 fiscal year, the fifth straight year the school has run a shortfall stretching into 10 figures.
The crowd of 11,338 was a record for a women’s game at Colorado and the team’s first sold-out crowd since March 17, 1995. Only two men’s games have drawn bigger crowds to the arena, which opened in 1979.
“I don’t think it really affected us,” Betts said, noting the Bruins have played in front of three packed houses this month, “but I can say that it was just a really cool experience and I’m grateful that we got to play in front of that crowd.”
Betts’ parents and dozens of her friends were among the spectators.
Jaylyn Sherrod led four Buffaloes in double figures with 17 points, but Colorado was outrebounded 44-27 as Angela Dugalic, like Betts, also pulled down 13 boards.
“Really proud of a lot of things we did,” Colorado coach JR Payne said. “Very, very disappointed and frustrated with our rebounding. Because I do think that determined the outcome of the game.
“But just I mean, two heavyweights, right? Like two of the best teams in the country. First top-five matchup,” Payne added. “I thought we competed on every single possession. I think our offense got stagnant, which we haven’t seen really at all this year. And then the defensive rebounding just absolutely crushed us. But they’re a great team, very well coached. You know, a lot of talented players on the floor, both sides. So proud of our team.”
Betts’ put-back bucket gave the Bruins a 49-48 lead heading into the fourth quarter and they pulled away at the free-throw line where they made 10 of 13 shots, including six by Osborne.
“It’s definitely hard to play like that with a lot of your top players in foul trouble,” Payne said.
Betts had a tough night, missing half of her 16 shots and turning it over four times, but she made the clutch baskets in the second half that helped the Bruins pull away. She had three turnovers in the first half that included a pair of three-second violations.
Betts, a native of Centennial, Colo., brought a nation-best 72.2% shooting clip into the game.
The Buffaloes led 35-32 at halftime. Osborne’s 13 first-half points included a pull-up jumper just before the buzzer, whittling what had been a nine-point deficit to three points at the break.
Lauren Betts struggled through her first season at Stanford. She says UCLA’s mental health support helped her become a key leader for the Bruins.
Betts scored 14 points at Colorado last year when she was a freshman reserve at Stanford. That’s 34 points in two games, but she might not be back as the Bruins are headed for the Big Ten and the Buffaloes for the Big 12 next season.
“I’m going to miss coming back here for sure,” Betts said.
“I’m going to try to get her back to the Denver or Boulder area one more time,” Bruins coach Cori Close interjected. “I’m hoping for her senior year that we get to come back here again. I’m planting the seed now.”
Big picture
UCLA: The Bruins hung tough and never let their deficit hit double digits. They chipped away through three quarters and dominated in the fourth.
Colorado: Frida Formann went in to shoot the free throw when Sherrod fell hard after getting fouled on a layup. While Sherrod went to the bench briefly, Formann nailed the free throw that put Colorado ahead 32-24. ... Charlotte Whittaker, who made her first three-pointer in three years in the Buffaloes’ victory over Stanford on Sunday, nailed another in the second quarter against the Bruins.
Up next for UCLA: visits No. 20 Utah, a 78-58 winner over No. 6 USC on Friday, on Monday night.
Go beyond the scoreboard
Get the latest on L.A.'s teams in the daily Sports Report newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
