LOS ANGELES — The UCLA Bruins routed the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Mustangs on Tuesday, 115-28, in their penultimate nonconference game of the season. But the major storyline surrounding the game was the debut of highly-touted freshman forward Sienna Betts, the younger sister of UCLA star Lauren Betts.
Sienna’s college debut was delayed due to a leg injury suffered before the season began, and UCLA’s frontcourt rotation has been tested amid her absence. Following the Bruins’ Big Ten conference-opening win against Oregon on Dec. 7, UCLA head coach Cori Close hinted at Sienna being ready to return to the lineup.
While nothing was set in stone, everything was trending towards Sienna being able to play, albeit on a minutes restriction as she continues her injury recovery. The moment came with a little over four minutes to go in the first quarter, as Sienna checked into the game amid a loud cheer from the UCLA home crowd.
By the end of the night, she had played a total of ten minutes and finished with five points and two assists. She took only one shot, a turnaround jumper late in the fourth quarter, that she knocked down. The rest of her points came off of drawing fouls and getting to the free-throw line.
But regardless of how she played on the court, Close was pleased with her debut while continuing to remind everyone that Sienna should be afforded a lot of grace for being able to be out on the court.
“I think my biggest worry today was how much pressure she was putting on herself. She’s barely gotten reps back, and it’s been a gradual process. But our medical staff, rightfully so, has been very conservative in how they have gotten her back,” Close said following the win. “I just wanted her to have some joy, to just get her feet wet. It wasn’t going to be perfect. I could tell she was playing with nerves. But I am so excited about what she brings to our team.”
And Sienna certainly showed what she’s capable of bringing to the team on a nightly basis. She was able to get meaningful playing time alongside Lauren within the Bruins’ two-big lineups.
On one play in particular, Sienna drew two defenders as she made a move to the basket. Lauren noticed her defender helping off on Sienna, made a sharp roll to the basket, and Sienna found her sister with the assist. Her vision has Close picturing the versatile lineups she can use in the frontcourt.
”Sienna is an elite passer. She has a great sense of where her teammates are, and her and Lauren have an uncanny ability to know how and when they need to find each other,” Close said. “And it will take some rhythm and some different things, but I think that’s one of Sienna’s most elite skills is her passing ability, her basketball IQ and understanding how to make somebody else better with that vision and passing.”
She was able to have her way against the smaller Cal Poly defenders, even in her limited minutes. She did a solid job of recognizing how to draw contract and get herself to the free-throw line. She went to the stripe eight times, but only converted on three of those attempts. It was a bit of a glimpse of what Sienna can do against teams that don’t have much size up front.
And then for Lauren, getting to play with Sienna was just a culmination of what they’ve dreamed about since they were young. When Sienna subbed into the game in the second quarter, she came in at the same time as Lauren did, a preview of things to come.
”I just felt super jolly. I was just happy to be on the court with her. She’s just done a lot of work, and I know that this process hasn’t been easy. But to just have that moment with her, this is something that we’ve kind of grown up just dreaming about,” Lauren said after the game. “And so to be at this level and to be on the court with her is just really amazing. Just continuing to boost her confidence is super important … I just wanted her to get that one game in, and moving forward, I know she’s going to continue to do amazing. So just really proud of her.”
