Lauren Betts leads No. 2 UCLA past Illinois despite foul trouble

Bruins star overcomes early fouls to power UCLA to 80-67 win over Illini

Jan. 28, 2026 at 10:31pm

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Lauren Betts, the star center for the second-ranked UCLA women's basketball team, scored 23 points and grabbed 9 rebounds to lead the Bruins to an 80-67 victory over Illinois on Wednesday night, despite dealing with early foul trouble.

Why it matters

Betts is a key player for the highly ranked Bruins, who are looking to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season. Her ability to overcome adversity and still dominate the game shows her talent and leadership on the court.

The details

Betts, a 6'5" junior, picked up two quick fouls in the first quarter, forcing her to the bench for much of the first half. However, she returned in the second half and took over the game, scoring 17 of her 23 points after the break to power UCLA to the road win over the Illini.

  • The game took place on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Lauren Betts

A 6'5" junior center and star player for the second-ranked UCLA women's basketball team.

UCLA

The second-ranked women's basketball team from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Illinois

The women's basketball team from the University of Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“Lauren really stepped up for us tonight and showed why she's one of the best players in the country. Even with the early foul trouble, she found a way to dominate the game and lead us to a big road win.”

— Cori Close, UCLA Head Coach

What’s next

UCLA will look to continue its strong start to the season when it hosts Oregon on Sunday, February 2nd.

The takeaway

Betts' ability to overcome adversity and still lead her team to victory demonstrates her talent and leadership, which will be crucial for UCLA as it aims to make a deep run in the NCAA tournament this season.