UCLA Dominates Cal Baptist, Oklahoma State Defeats Princeton in Women's NCAA Tournament

Top-seeded Bruins cruise to 96-43 win, while Cowgirls advance to second round

Mar. 22, 2026 at 10:49am

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In the Sacramento Region 2 first-round action of the 2026 Women's NCAA Tournament, the top-seeded UCLA Bruins crushed the 16th-seeded Cal Baptist Lancers 96-43, while the 8th-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls defeated the 9th-seeded Princeton Tigers 82-68.

Why it matters

The lopsided victories by the higher-seeded teams in these opening-round matchups highlight the talent disparity between the top programs and lower-seeded teams in the women's tournament. As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see if the Bruins and Cowgirls can continue their dominant play and make deep runs.

The details

The Bruins led just 44-34 at halftime but then outscored the Lancers 52-9 in the second half, showcasing their superior size and skill. UCLA's Lauren Betts and Sienna Betts each recorded double-doubles, while the team outrebounded Cal Baptist 62-21 and scored 30 second-chance points. Oklahoma State, led by a season-high 28 points from Achol Akot, pulled away from Princeton in the second half after leading 48-33 at the break.

  • The first-round games took place on Saturday, March 22, 2026 in Los Angeles.
  • The second-round matchup between UCLA and Oklahoma State is scheduled for Monday.

The players

Lauren Betts

A UCLA player who recorded a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Sienna Betts

Lauren's sister, who also had a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds for UCLA.

Achol Akot

The Oklahoma State player who scored a season-high 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting and grabbed 10 rebounds.

Chance Bucher

A Cal Baptist player who came off the bench to score 11 points in the loss to UCLA.

Madison St. Rose

A Princeton player who scored 17 points in the Tigers' loss to Oklahoma State.

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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

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

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the UCLA-Oklahoma State second-round matchup will advance to the Sweet 16.

The takeaway

The lopsided victories by the higher-seeded teams in these opening-round games highlight the talent gap between the top programs and lower-seeded teams in the women's NCAA Tournament. As the tournament progresses, fans will be eager to see if the powerhouse Bruins and Cowgirls can maintain their dominant play and make deep runs.