No. 2 UCLA secured its second straight Big Ten Tournament title with a dominant 96-45 victory over No. 9 Iowa on Sunday in Indianapolis.
Key Takeaways
No. 2 UCLA defeated No. 9 Iowa 96-45 to win its second straight Big Ten Tournament title, setting a record for the most lopsided championship-game margin in tournament history.
- Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists for UCLA.
- Six UCLA players scored in double figures, including Sienna Betts with 14 points.
- Iowa's Hannah Stuelke struggled due to a right elbow injury and illness, scoring zero points.
- The Bruins extended their school-record win streak to 25 games and their Big Ten win streak to 24.
- Both teams await Selection Sunday for their NCAA Tournament matchups.
The Bruins (31-1) 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. UCLA also achieved the most lopsided championship-game margin in tournament history, surpassing Iowa's 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023.
Gianna Kneepkens led UCLA with 19 points, while Kiki Rice contributed 15 points and eight assists. Rice was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Six Bruins scored in double figures, including Sienna Betts, who matched her season high with 14 points. Lauren Betts, Sienna's sister, added 10 points in 24 minutes.
For Iowa (26-6), Ava Heiden scored 15 points and Addie Deal added 11. All-conference forward Hannah Stuelke struggled due to a right elbow injury and illness, going scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting with only three rebounds. The Hawkeyes' eight-game winning streak was snapped.
The Bruins had 34 assists on 40 baskets and led by as many as 25 points in the second quarter before extending their lead in the second half. UCLA's two-year title reign follows Iowa's three-peat and Maryland's back-to-back victories. The Bruins became the first Big Ten team to complete a perfect conference season since Maryland in 2014-15.
Both teams await Selection Sunday to find out their NCAA Tournament matchups, with UCLA certain to host the first two rounds and Iowa potentially playing at home.
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