UCLA Bruins Defeat Ohio State Buckeyes 72-62 in Big Ten Tourney Semis

Kiki Rice leads five Bruins in double figures as UCLA extends win streak to 24 games

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The No. 2 UCLA Bruins defeated the No. 11 Ohio State Buckeyes 72-62 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference women's basketball tournament. Kiki Rice scored 17 points to lead five UCLA players in double figures as the Bruins extended their school-record winning streak to 24 games. Conference Player of the Year Lauren Betts and Angela Dugalic each added 14 points for UCLA, who led the entire game. Chance Gray scored 23 points for Ohio State in the losing effort.

Why it matters

This win keeps UCLA's impressive season going as they look to capture the Big Ten tournament title and secure a high seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Ohio State's loss ends their tournament run but they will still await their selection and seeding for the NCAA Tournament.

The details

UCLA shot 44% from the field while limiting Ohio State to 37%. The Bruins led 32-21 at halftime and held off a late Buckeyes rally to secure the 10-point victory. UCLA's defense held Ohio State's leading scorer Chance Gray to just 6-of-11 shooting, though she still finished with a team-high 23 points.

  • The game was played on Saturday, March 7, 2026 in the semifinals of the Big Ten Conference tournament in Indianapolis.

The players

Kiki Rice

A UCLA player who scored a team-high 17 points in the win.

Lauren Betts

The Big Ten Conference Player of the Year, who scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for UCLA.

Angela Dugalic

A UCLA player who also scored 14 points in the victory.

Chance Gray

The leading scorer for Ohio State, finishing with 23 points in the losing effort.

Jaloni Cambridge

An Ohio State player who scored 12 points.

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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)

What’s next

The Bruins will meet No. 9 Iowa in Sunday's championship game of the Big Ten Tournament.

The takeaway

UCLA's dominant performance against a ranked Ohio State team shows they are a force to be reckoned with as they pursue a deep NCAA Tournament run. The Bruins' balanced scoring attack and stifling defense have them poised to potentially win their first Big Ten Tournament title.