SACRAMENTO – Celebrating Success

Lauren Betts found herself surrounded by her teammates and fans, receiving hugs and congratulations at every turn.

During post-game interviews at the UCLA Center, her teammate Angela Dugalic joyfully showered her with confetti, and while Betts had a few specks on her forehead, her teammates were quick to help clean them off.

Afterwards, the team gathered with their families in a corner of the Golden 1 Center, where the emotional moment led to heartfelt hugs, particularly with her mother, Michelle, who was visibly moved.

There was also a lively dance with Gabriela Jaquez and Charlize Ledger-Walker, reviving a fun tradition following a significant win.

Winning the Sacramento 2 Region Player of the Year award certainly had its advantages.

Betts caught a lot of eyes after leading her team to a comeback victory against Duke, winning 70-58 in the NCAA Tournament’s Elite Eight.

Feeling frustrated after trailing in the first half, Betts knew she needed to step up.

“I think I was pretty angry,” Betts reflected, noting that she scored 15 of her 23 points in the second half, along with 10 rebounds and five blocks. “I didn’t like how the first half was going. Sometimes you go into games like this and need to remind yourself that it’s the Elite Eight and your season is at stake, so you have to, you know, wake up a bit.”

Once she got going, Duke started to falter.

After Jaquez made a layup to kick off the third quarter, Betts quickly followed suit, igniting the crowd of UCLA fans.

As the Bruins gained momentum, Betts contributed significantly with more layups and blocks, one leading to a layup from Dugaric, extending their lead to nine points.

With the win secured, it became time for celebration.

Betts reached out to her high school coach and assistant seated in the stands, eager to share the victory with them.

“They’re my family, so I wanted them to be on the court celebrating with me,” she expressed. “They played a big role in mentoring me, just like they did with former Bruin Michaela [Onyenwere]. So it felt really special to share this with them.”

In a throwback to her viral dance moves, Betts teamed up with Angela Scales from UCLA’s Spirit and Engagement team, who managed to cue up Tate McRae’s “Just Keep Watching” over the arena’s speakers. This made way for a spirited celebration from Betts, Jaquez, and Ledger-Walker.

“I wasn’t sure how it would happen,” Betts admitted. “But it was probably set up for the Big Ten Tournament or something. Gabs ran over, and honestly, we had practiced it earlier in the locker room today. I didn’t expect to be out there in front of everyone, but it was just a lot of fun.”

More celebrations are likely in store as the team heads to the Final Four.

Betts sported a shirt that boldly proclaimed, “We’re Not Done,” as she wrapped up interviews on Sunday.

“This is just one more step on our journey together,” she remarked, feeling grateful for the experience.