The Cowgirls needed some Cinderella magic but the glass slipper failed to fit even before halftime - Bruins eliminated Oklahoma State in second record, 87-68
LOS ANGELES, CA — The No. 8 seed Oklahoma State Cowgirls’ inspiring 2026 NCAA Tournament journey came to a close on March 23 at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, as the top-seeded UCLA Bruins pulled away for an 87-68 victory in the second round of the Sacramento Region.
UCLA, which entered at 32-1 overall, advanced to the Sweet 16 to face the winner of another matchup. While the Cowgirls were significant underdogs against one of the nation’s most dominant teams, Oklahoma State delivered a competitive and honorable effort that highlighted the program’s rapid rise under head coach Jacie Hoyt.
UCLA controlled the game from the opening tip, building a 21-6 lead after the first quarter as Oklahoma State went cold from the field. The Bruins extended their advantage to double digits by halftime and repelled Oklahoma State’s only significant push in the third quarter, when the Cowgirls cut the deficit to 13 points.
Lauren Betts then took over, scoring in bunches to push the lead back to double digits for good. UCLA dominated the paint and used its size and depth to maintain control, outscoring Oklahoma State in key stretches while committing just six turnovers compared to OSU’s 10.
Betts was the standout for UCLA, delivering a career-high 35 points on 15-of-19 shooting while adding nine rebounds and five assists. Her efficiency and interior presence proved too much for the Cowgirls to contain. Gianna Kneepkens added 15 points with several timely three-pointers in the second half, and Gabriela Jaquez contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Bruins shot 48% from the field overall and controlled the tempo throughout.
For Oklahoma State, Achol Akot led the charge with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Jadyn Wooten provided strong playmaking with 18 points and six assists, sparking the Cowgirls’ brief third-quarter surge.
Oklahoma State improved its shooting in the second half but couldn’t overcome the early deficit or UCLA’s physicality inside. The Cowgirls entered averaging 81.5 points per game and ranking among the nation’s top-15 in scoring offense, yet UCLA’s stingy defense limited them to 68 points.
An upset of the No. 1 seed Bruins would have required true Cinderella magic — flawless execution, hot outside shooting, and defensive stops against a complete and experienced UCLA squad that had allowed just 56.6 points per game all season.
Despite the sizable mismatch on paper, Oklahoma State put up a great fight, staying within striking distance at times and refusing to go quietly. The loss ended what had been the most successful tournament run for the program in years.
Hoyt, in her fourth season at Oklahoma State, continues to steadily build the Cowgirls into a Big 12 contender. She has led the team to a remarkable 33-2 record at home over the past two seasons (including a program-best 17-1 mark in 2024-25), turning Gallagher-Iba Arena into one of the toughest venues in the conference.
This season’s 24-9 overall record (12-6 in the Big 12) and No. 8 seed marked the program’s strongest showing in recent memory.
The first-round victory over No. 9 seed Princeton, 82-68, powered by Akot’s career high 28 points and 10 rebounds, gave Hoyt her first ever March Madness win and snapped a streak of first round exits in the program’s prior two NCAA appearances.
The second round exit against UCLA, while disappointing, marks the tangible progress under Hoyt. Oklahoma State earned its first NCAA Tournament victory in the modern era, proved it can compete on the biggest stage, and showed that a young capable core can match up with elite programs when clicking.
With continued recruiting success, strong culture, and Hoyt’s track record of development, the Cowgirls are positioned for sustained improvement in the Big 12 and maybe deeper postseason runs.