UCLA Women Dominate for Second Straight Title
No. 2 UCLA rolled past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 for their second consecutive Big Ten Tournament title. Kiki Rice was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player as the Bruins' decisive victory solidifies their status as a top NCAA tournament favorite.
The 51-point margin of victory was the largest in the history of the Big Ten Tournament championship game, shattering the previous record of 33 points set by Iowa in their 2023 win over Ohio State. It also marked the largest margin of victory over an AP Top 10 team during the NCAA era. UCLA's dominant performance included setting new Big Ten tournament single-game records for field goal percentage (63.5%) and assists (34). This victory marked UCLA's first-ever season winning both the Big Ten regular-season and tournament titles. The Bruins finished with a perfect 18-0 record in conference play during the regular season, making them the first Big Ten team to complete an undefeated conference season since 2014-15. The win extended their school-record winning streak to 25 games. All five of UCLA's starters scored in double figures, with six players in total reaching that mark. Graduate guard Gianna Kneepkens led all scorers with 19 points. Freshman forward Sienna Betts, sister of starter Lauren Betts, had a standout performance off the bench, matching her season-high with 14 points on 7-for-8 shooting, along with seven rebounds and five assists. The Bruins' defense was a significant factor, forcing 19 turnovers from Iowa and holding the Hawkeyes to just 27.9% shooting from the field. Iowa's all-conference forward Hannah Stuelke was held scoreless, shooting 0-for-4 while playing through an injury and illness. UCLA capitalized on these opportunities, outscoring Iowa 32-6 in points off turnovers.
