No. 1 seeds UConn, South Carolina and Texas won their second-round matchups by an average of 45 points per game.
UCLA, the last No. 1 seed to play in Round 2, was on its way to a similar result after pummeling No. 8 seed Oklahoma State 21-6 in the first quarter Monday night at Pauley Pavilion.
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But give the Cowgirls credit: They went blow-for-blow with the Bruins in the final three quarters of an 87-68 loss.
Losing by only 19 doesn’t sound all that great, but OSU, unlike their fellow No. 8 and 9 seeds, at least made a superteam sweat.
“I’ve never been more proud of our team than what I was tonight and the way that they fought and battled,” OSU coach Jacie Hoyt said. “Obviously we did not get off to the start that we wanted to, but when you take out that first quarter, we went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the country and beat them in the second half.”
OSU trailed UCLA 39-14 late in the second quarter. The Cowgirls outscored the Bruins 54-48 the rest of the game. Maybe UCLA took its foot off the gas, but OSU didn’t.
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“They were a fierce and competitive and physical (team), and just want to give them credit for a great game and a great year for them,” UCLA coach Cori Close said.
OSU reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in Hoyt’s four seasons as coach.
“I’m just really proud, is the word I keep coming back to,” Hoyt said. “Proud and grateful.”
Here are takeaways from the game:
More: Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt gets Women’s March Madness win, starts scouting UCLA
Achol Akot continues impressive tournament run
Senior forward Achol Akot scored a career-high 28 points in OSU’s first-round win against Princeton. She followed up with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting against the Bruins.
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It was the first time in Akot’s career that she scored 20-plus points in back-to-back games. And what a time to do it.
Akot led the Cowgirls in scoring despite only playing 24 minutes. She battled foul trouble and eventually fouled out.
More: How Oklahoma State women’s basketball earned first NCAA Tournament win of Jacie Hoyt era
Jadyn Wooten brings scoring off bench
One thing about Jadyn Wooten: She doesn’t cower in big spots. The backup OSU guard has a game tailormade for March.
Wooten scored 18 points on 9-of-18 shooting. She had six assists and only two turnovers.
Wooten plays with pop on offense. She got to her patented midrange jumper and kept UCLA defenders off balance with her change of pace.
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Retaining the rising junior should be among the offseason priorities for the Cowgirls.
“Last year we lost in the first round, and this year we got past the first round,” Wooten said. “So for me, it just kind of makes me hungry to keep stacking, keep building.”
More: Who is Oklahoma State women’s basketball X factor in postseason? Meet Jadyn Wooten
Mar 23, 2026; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) defends Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jadyn Wooten (6) in the first half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Lauren Betts scores career high
UCLA senior center Lauren Betts put on a show in her final game at Pauley Pavilion.
Betts, more known for her defense, scored a career-high 35 points on 15-of-19 shooting.
Akot and backup forward Praise Egharevba were completely overmatched by the bigger and more physical Betts.
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Betts, in her third year at UCLA after transferring from Stanford, is a projected top-five pick in the upcoming WNBA draft.
“This community, the minute that I transferred over here has just welcomed me with open arms,” Betts said. “The fans have just been so supportive of me through my entire journey, through my mental challenges, through just basketball, everything. I feel like I’ve grown so much, and they have really taken care of me here.”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 23: Lauren Betts #51 and Lena Bilic #9 of the UCLA Bruins react during the first half in the second round game of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at UCLA Pauley Pavilion on March 23, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Melina Pizano/Getty Images)
Tip-ins
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Micah Gray and Stailee Heard, who rank first and third on the team in scoring, combined for just six points Monday on 2-of-14 shooting. Heard had a team-high six rebounds, but the Cowgirls needed more from her and Gray on the offensive end.
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Akot and Wooten combined for 60% of OSU’s points. They were the only two Cowgirls in double figures.
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Freshman guard Lena Girardi scored six points on 2-of-3 3-point shooting in 12 minutes off the bench. It was Girardi’s first game action in almost a month. She didn’t play in the Cowgirls’ first two postseason games. “Lena’s fearlessness is kind of her super power,” Hoyt said.
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OSU, one of the most prolific 3-point shooting teams in the country, shot just 5-of-20 from deep.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OSU women’s basketball falls to UCLA in NCAA Tournament second round
