LOS ANGELES — Lauren Betts had an impressive performance, scoring a career-high 31 points along with securing nine rebounds as the No. 5 ranked UCLA Bruins defeated Colgate 81-63 during their home opener on Sunday.

The Bruins, now standing at 3-0 for the season, returned to the court after a notable win against No. 17 Louisville, which they managed to secure 66-59 in Paris last Monday, marking the start of the women’s college basketball season.

Displaying remarkable skill in the paint, Betts achieved an outstanding shooting percentage, converting 15 out of 18 shots from the field. She was able to initiate the final quarter by scoring the Bruins’ first 12 points before exiting the game with just 3:25 left on the clock. The only slight setback for her was missing two free throws, resulting in a 1 of 5 from the line overall.

On the other side, Colgate was led in scoring by Anne Bair, who contributed 13 points and five assists. Additionally, Taylor Golembiewski added 12 points and five rebounds, while Sophia Diehl chipped in 10 points alongside five rebounds.

In terms of observations, it was noted that coach Ganiyat Adeduntan faced her former mentor, UCLA’s coach Cori Close. Adeduntan had played at Florida State from 2002-06 when Close served as an assistant coach for a couple of seasons.

For UCLA, it is imperative to address their careless play, especially since they are scheduled to host the top-ranked South Carolina in just two weeks.

A significant moment in the game occurred when UCLA expanded their lead from 11 to 22 points in the third quarter. Betts contributed eight points, while freshman Elina Aarnisalo scored seven, including five consecutive points during a quick 7-0 run. During the latter part of the quarter, Colgate’s Golembiewski and Christina Midgette both picked up their third fouls, leading to a drought in field-goal attempts for the Raiders as the minutes ticked down.

In regard to the key statistics, the Bruins recorded a total of 17 turnovers, which allowed Colgate to capitalize and score 13 points from those errors. Notably, Aarnisalo accounted for six turnovers, with Londynn Jones adding four.

Looking ahead, Colgate will be hosting Central Connecticut State this coming Friday, while UCLA will face Pepperdine on Tuesday, marking the second game of four straight home matchups.