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UCLA Women's Basketball: Murky Timeline Established For Lauren Betts

UCLA Bruins star center Lauren Betts will return at some point this season but when?

Maren Angus-Coombs

UCLA Women's Basketball: Murky Timeline Established For Lauren Betts
UCLA Women's Basketball: Murky Timeline Established For Lauren Betts /
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The good news for the UCLA Bruins is that Lauren Betts will return this season. The bad news is head coach Cori Close isn't sure when.

Betts is in the middle of a breakout season. She transferred from Stanford over the summer. She is averaging 15.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks while launching herself onto several national player of the year award shortlists.

The Bruins have struggled without their 6-foot-7 center. Over the last four games, UCLA has gone 2-2, including a 20-point blowout loss to Betts's former team, Stanford.

Close said the rough patch isn't due to missing Betts.

"There's no roster excuse. That's a heart issue. That's an execution issue. That's a competition issue. And we did not do that today and we have to take responsibility for it." 

Cori Close via ESPN

The Bruins will be missing more players this week. Lina Sontag and Angela Dugalic are in Europe trying to qualify for the Olympics with their respective national teams, Izzy Anstey announced her retirement and Emily Bessoir is out for the season with a knee injury.

With a short bench and small lineup, Close will have to depend on Christeen Iwaula and Gabriela Jacquez in the post. Freshman Amanda Muse might get some more playing time as well.

UCLA returns home to Pauley Pavilion on Friday, Feb. 9 against Arizona.

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Maren Angus-Coombs
MAREN ANGUS-COOMBS

Maren Angus-Coombs was born in Los Angeles and raised in Nashville, Tenn. She is a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and has been a sports writer since 2008. Despite being raised in the South, her sports obsession has always been in Los Angeles. She is currently a staff writer for the LA Sports Report Network.