Oklahoma State women's basketball shows fight in NCAA Tournament loss to UCLA

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. 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.