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UCLA routs Iowa for second straight Big Ten title (1:19)
No. 2 UCLA Bruins defeat No. 9 Iowa Hawkeyes 96–45 to capture back-to-back Big Ten titles. (1:19)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Gianna Kneepkens scored 19 points and Kiki Rice added 15 points and eight assists Sunday as No. 2 UCLA rolled past No. 9 Iowa 96-45 to win its second straight Big Ten tournament crown.
Rice was named the tourney's Most Outstanding Player.
It's the first time the Bruins (31-1) have captured back-to-back postseason conference titles, and it's also the first time they have won regular-season and league tournament titles in the same season. The Bruins also extended their school-record win streak to 25 games and their Big Ten win streak to 24, dating to last season's tourney run.
And they did it with most the lopsided championship-game margin in tournament history, easily surpassing Iowa's 33-point win over Ohio State in 2023. Five UCLA players scored in double figures, including Sienna Betts -- the younger sister of star center Lauren Betts -- who matched a season high with 14 points. Lauren Betts had 10 points in 24 minutes.
Ava Heiden scored 15 points for the Hawkeyes (26-6). Addie Deal added 11 points while all-conference forward Hannah Stuelke struggled as she played through a right elbow injury and an illness for the third straight day. Stuelke was scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting and had only three rebounds as Iowa's eight-game winning streak was snapped.
The Hawkeyes never looked right after Taylor Stremlow opened the game with a 3-pointer to give them their only lead.
UCLA answered with 13 consecutive points. The Bruins extended the margin to 22-5 after one quarter and led by 25 in the second before Iowa closed the half with a 3 to get within 42-20. It only got worse for Iowa in the second half.
The Bruins had 34 assists on 40 baskets.
UCLA's two-year title reign was preceded by Iowa's three-peat and Maryland winning two straight. Last weekend, the Bruins became the first Big Ten team to complete a perfect conference season since the Terrapins in 2014-15. Maryland also won the tourney crown that season.
