No. 2 UCLA Dominates No. 9 Iowa to Win Second Straight Big Ten Tournament Title

Bruins cruise to 96-45 victory, extending school-record win streak to 25 games

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 2 UCLA Bruins women's basketball team rolled past the No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes 96-45 to win their second consecutive Big Ten Tournament championship. Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and 8 assists for the Bruins, who extended their school-record win streak to 25 games and their Big Ten win streak to 24 dating back to last season's tournament run.

Why it matters

This victory marks the first time the Bruins have captured back-to-back postseason conference titles, and the first time they have won both the regular-season and tournament titles in the same season. It also represents the largest margin of victory in a Big Ten Tournament championship game, surpassing Iowa's 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023.

The details

The Bruins dominated from the start, opening the game on a 13-0 run after Iowa's Taylor Stremlow hit a 3-pointer to give the Hawkeyes their only lead. UCLA extended the margin to 22-5 after the first quarter and led by as many as 25 in the second quarter before Iowa closed the half with a 3-pointer to make it 42-20. The Bruins continued to pull away in the second half, finishing with 34 assists on 40 made baskets.

  • The Bruins extended their school-record win streak to 25 games.
  • The Bruins extended their Big Ten win streak to 24 games, dating back to last season's tournament run.

The players

Gianna Kneepkens

A UCLA player who scored 19 points in the game.

Kiki Rice

A UCLA player who scored 15 points and had 8 assists, and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Lauren Betts

The UCLA center who had 10 points in 24 minutes of play.

Sienna Betts

The younger sister of UCLA star center Lauren Betts, who matched a season high with 14 points.

Ava Heiden

An Iowa player who scored 15 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This victory solidifies UCLA's status as one of the top women's basketball programs in the country, as they have now won both the regular-season and tournament titles in the Big Ten for the first time. The Bruins' dominant performance also sets them up well for a deep run in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.