Cowgirls Look to Rebound Against Tulsa After Tough Bedlam Loss
After running into a buzzsaw in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls don’t have much time to dwell. A quick turnaround brings them back to Gallagher-Iba Arena, where they’ll host Tulsa in their final nonconference tune-up before Big 12 play tips off this weekend.
Let’s break down where things stand after the Bedlam loss, what went wrong, and what to watch as the Cowgirls look to reset against the Golden Hurricane.
Was Bedlam a Wake-Up Call or Just a Bump in the Road?
Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma was a reality check-but not necessarily a red flag. The Sooners are legit, and OSU head coach Jacie Hoyt said it herself postgame: Oklahoma is “really good” and could be a Final Four team.
That’s not coach-speak. That’s a team playing at an elite level, and the Cowgirls got a front-row seat to see what that looks like.
Still, it was a jarring shift. OSU came into the Bedlam matchup as one of the most explosive offenses in the country, averaging over 94 points per game.
But against OU’s stout defense, the Cowgirls managed just 70 points-still not terrible, but a clear drop from their usual output. They shot a season-low 37.8% from the field and went just 9-for-32 from deep.
It wasn’t just a cold night-it was a full-on freeze.
The good news? That kind of shooting performance is the exception, not the rule. But if the Cowgirls want to get back to their high-scoring ways, they’ll need to recalibrate a few key areas.
Ball Movement: From Flow to Friction
One of the biggest reasons OSU’s offense has clicked this season is their unselfishness. Coming into Bedlam, they ranked fifth in the country in assists per game at 21.5.
But that rhythm vanished against the Sooners. The Cowgirls dished out just nine assists total-four in the first quarter, then just two in the second, one in the third, and two in the fourth.
That’s not just a stat-it’s a symptom. When the ball stops moving, the offense stalls.
And that’s exactly what happened once they fell behind in the third quarter. Instead of sticking to their identity, the Cowgirls tried to force it.
The result? Missed shots, empty possessions, and a game that slipped away.
One bright spot: Jadyn Wooten. The junior guard continues to be a steadying presence off the bench and arguably the team’s best playmaker.
She led the team with four assists in 28 minutes and ranked among the top in points produced and offensive rating. Wooten currently sits 10th nationally with 70 assists on the season.
When she’s on the floor, the offense hums a little smoother.
Turnovers Told the Story
As much as the Cowgirls struggled to share the ball with each other, they had no trouble sharing it with Oklahoma.
OSU turned the ball over 22 times-18 of those giveaways came in the official box score, but either way, it was far too many. Those turnovers led to 27 points for the Sooners, and the third quarter was especially brutal. OU poured in 30 points in that frame alone, 18 of them off 11 OSU turnovers.
Coach Hoyt didn’t sugarcoat it: “You’re never going to beat a team that good turning the ball over the way that we did. When they had that 30-point quarter, it was really just us straight-up passing them the ball.”
That third quarter was the turning point. OSU had hung around early, but once the turnovers piled up, the game tilted hard in OU’s favor. That kind of sloppiness isn’t typical for this team, but it was costly on Saturday.
A Timely Reset Before Conference Play
Now comes the bounce-back opportunity.
Tulsa comes to Stillwater having dropped three of their last four. Their lone win since Thanksgiving came against Mississippi Valley State-a team OSU also played and beat handily. So while transitive scores don’t always tell the full story, this matchup gives the Cowgirls a chance to reset, refocus, and head into Big 12 play with momentum.
The Golden Hurricane bring some talent, especially in their frontcourt. Junior guard Mady Cartwright leads the team with 17.2 points per game, while senior forward Hannah Riddick is a double-double threat every night, averaging 13.3 points and 8.4 rebounds. Freshman Dora Toman has also emerged as a versatile contributor, posting nearly nine points and over six boards per game.
But the numbers still favor OSU. The Cowgirls are averaging 94.2 points per game to Tulsa’s 74.8, and they’re shooting a blistering 51% from the field. Their three-point shooting (38%) and free-throw percentage (78%) also give them a clear edge.
This game isn’t just about the win-it’s about getting back to who they are. Sharing the ball.
Playing fast. Taking care of possessions.
If they do that, they’ll be in good shape heading into Sunday’s Big 12 opener at Cincinnati.
By the Numbers: Team Comparison
| Category | Oklahoma State | Tulsa |
|---|
| Record | 10-2 | 6-3 | | Points Per Game | 94.2 | 74.8 |
| Opponent PPG | 60.0 | 64.3 | | FG% | 51% | 42% |
| Opponent FG% | 41% | 38% | | 3PT% | 38% | 33% |
| FT% | 78% | 75% | | Rebounds Per Game | 41.5 | 40.6 |
Projected Starters
Oklahoma State
- Haleigh Timmer (Sr., 5-11): 15.2 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 2.2 APG
- Micah Gray (Sr., 5-8): 14.6 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 2.8 APG
- Amari Whiting (Jr., 5-10): 11.4 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.7 APG
- Achol Akot (So., 6-1): 11.5 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.5 APG
- Stailee Heard (Sr., 5-11): 10.9 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
Tulsa
- Mady Cartwright (Jr., 5-10): 17.2 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.4 APG
- Hannah Riddick (Sr., 6-1): 13.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2.1 APG
- Dora Toman (Fr., 6-0): 8.9 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 3.3 APG
- Abigail Jegede (Jr., 5-10): 9.6 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 1.0 APG
- Alisha Peavy (Fr., 6-2): 5.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.6 APG
Final Word
This is one of those classic “get-right” games. The Cowgirls have shown they can score with anyone in the country, but they’ve also seen how quickly things can unravel when they get away from their identity. Tuesday’s matchup with Tulsa is about more than just the scoreboard-it’s about sharpening the tools before the grind of Big 12 play begins.
Tipoff can’t come soon enough.