UCLA Women's Basketball: Cori Close Projects Ceiling Of New Bruin

New transfer Lauren Betts has transformed her career after transferring to UCLA. The former Standford center might have had a tough showing in her first game but the Bruins stalwart has been instrumental in key victories for the team.

Take yesterday's showdown with Florida State, for instance. Not only did Betts secure a POTG honor by bringing down 22 points, 18 rebounds, and 4 blocks, she is only the third player this season that has accomplished that feat.

The Bruins would beat Florida State with a final score of 95-78, and improve to a 9-0 record, ranking the team #2 for a fourth straight week. They have now remained at that spot, which is the program's highest rating.

Her emergence has everything to do with Coach Cori Close, who recognized Betts's prowess and was immediately set on bringing that out.

Close talked to the LA Times about Betts, and she identified immediately what she needed to instill in her star player.

“I knew that her potential was a 10,” Close said, “but I knew that her confidence was not a 10 yet.”

Via Cori Close, LA Times

The confidence she is instilling in Betts has been paying off, as yesterday's game was proof that Lauren Betts has settled into her newfound role and team.

Betts also revealed what UCLA and Coach Close have been doing for her confidence, and how it has transformed her game.

“This program and honestly Coach Cori have been doing a really good job of filling me with a lot of positivity and all the things I’m capable of doing,” Betts said. “All the negativity that I saw about myself before I got here, it kind of just brought me back to normal.”

Via Lauren Betts, LA Times.

Coach Close is bringing the best out of this squad, which is why they remain unbeaten through the season. We imagine Betts will be seeing a ton more POTG honors if she continues her confidence-boosted performances.

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