Southern’s Tionna Lidge barely jumped for the opening tip. With UCLA’s Lauren Betts on the other side, the result seemed inevitable.

Betts had 14 points and six rebounds Friday as No. 1-seeded UCLA cruised to an 84-46 win over No. 16 Southern in the first round of the NCAA tournament at Pauley Pavilion. UCLA set a program record for the largest margin of victory in an NCAA tournament game, besting a 75-43 thrashing of Texas A&M in 2017.

With just one starter taller than 5 feet 10, Southern had no answers for Betts and UCLA’s deep roster. The Bruins aren’t the No. 1 overall seed for no reason, Southern guard DaKiyah Sanders said nonchalantly. Betts has been the driving force behind UCLA’s record-setting season and will dominate every opposition’s scouting report as the Bruins continue their chase for the program’s first NCAA title.

“Lauren is a cheat code,” said forward Janiah Barker, who had 10 points and 10 rebounds as the Bruins boasted six double-digit scorers.

The Bruins (31-2) advanced to host No. 8 seed Richmond in the second round of Spokane Region 1 at 7 p.m. on Sunday (ESPN). The Spiders (28-6) won their first NCAA tournament game in program history by dominating No. 9 Georgia Tech 74-49 behind 30 points, 15 rebounds and six assists from forward Maggie Doogan.

Since their game-changing transfer came to Westwood last year, the Bruins have completely shifted their style of play. Before Betts, they were beginning to embrace a five-out, motion offense common among international and NBA teams. They spent the previous two offseasons relentlessly drilling post entry passes. Coaches would not allow more than a few possessions in a row without the ball touching Betts’ hands in the paint.

UCLA’s Lauren Betts looks to pass over Southern’s Tionna Lidge, left, and Aniya Gourdine during the Bruins’ win Friday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Learning to play with such a special player has been an easy and welcome assignment, said Barker, a first-year transfer from Texas A&M. The 6-foot-7 Betts is just as skilled as she is tall.

“Teams can’t really guard her,” said point guard Kiki Rice, who had 10 points and seven assists. “I think we got to continue to feed her the ball. She makes the right plays. I think she’s really, really improved her passing. …. She’s seeing so many bodies, finding all the shooters we have on the perimeter. It’s really difficult for people to game plan for her.”

Betts had four assists, tied with Barker for the second most behind Rice. But Rice’s most important stat was her zero turnovers.

The Bruins turned the ball over seven times during the second quarter, allowing Southern to cut into UCLA’s 20-point lead. Crowded by a double team, Betts was called for a travel and Southern guard Taniya Lawson converted the turnover into a pull-up jumper on the next possession to move the Jaguars to within 12 points. A small but boisterous Southern cheering section behind the team’s bench waved blue-and-gold pompoms and a decorative umbrella.

Betts quickly quieted them, fighting through a double team on the next possession and finishing through contact to end Southern’s eight-point scoring streak.

Betts, the Big Ten defensive player of the year, shut down a smaller Southern team with her length. She was announced as one of four finalists for the Naismith defensive player of the year Friday. During a season filled with historic firsts for the Bruins, Betts added another this week as she was named the program’s first Associated Press first-team All-American.

Her eyes filled with tears when she saw the news through a text from her father. Betts, the No. 1 overall recruit in her class, always dreamt of the honor. But when a disappointing freshman year at Stanford stripped her of almost all her confidence, she stopped thinking such success was possible. Now revitalized with the Bruins, Betts is quick to share praise with teammates who helped her reach this stage.

“Everything that goes on and everything that pops up in my career and all the accomplishments, I think truly it’s such a blessing and I’m super grateful,” Betts said.

Despite the weight of the historic moment, UCLA coach Cori Close said she received only one or two text messages about Betts’ All-American accolade since it was announced Wednesday. What the coach heard more about was a Sports Illustrated story in which Betts shared how she rediscovered her joy with the Bruins, overcoming crushing self-doubt and years of bullying.

“There is a level of freedom in her,” Close said before Friday’s game. “I just think when you are completely authentic and willing to share your story for the sake of others, it releases a burden from your shoulders.”

UCLA guard Kiki Rice, right, is fouled by Southern forward DeMya Porter, center, as she drives the lane in front of teammate Angela Dugalic, left, on Friday.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Betts has carried a large weight on and off the court. Between endless interview requests and classes — the Bruins just finished finals this week — the star also has managed name, image and likeness obligations. She and Rice were featured in an AT&T commercial that debuted during the tournament.

After Friday’s first-round game, Betts was swept straight to the sideline to do a television interview. With the rest of her teammates already in the locker room, Betts turned to rush off the court as soon as she took off the headset. But out of the corner of her eye, she saw two young girls waiting with a pen in hand.

Betts U-turned and bent down on the table to sign their posters.