Oklahoma State Opens Big 12 Play at Cincinnati: What to Watch as the Cowgirls Enter “Second Season”
The nonconference tune-up is over. Now comes the real test.
Oklahoma State heads to Cincinnati this weekend to tip off Big 12 play, bringing with them one of the most explosive offenses in the country - and a quietly effective defense that’s been overshadowed by all the scoring. At 11-2, the Cowgirls have looked every bit the part of a contender, and after a bounce-back win over Tulsa, they’ll try to keep that momentum rolling against a Bearcats team still searching for consistency.
But don’t let the records fool you - conference play is a different animal. There are no layups in the Big 12. And for OSU, the path to March starts now.
Here are three key storylines to keep an eye on ahead of Sunday’s matchup.
1. Cincinnati Searching for Answers
The Bearcats limp into Big 12 play with a 5-7 record and the only sub-.500 mark in the conference. Picked to finish 12th in the preseason poll, they’ve struggled to find their footing - but they’ve also been in just about every game.
Cincinnati has dropped three of its last four, but each of those losses came down to the wire. A two-point heartbreaker to Howard, an overtime stumble against Miami (OH), and a single-digit loss to Xavier show that this team is competing - they just haven’t been able to close.
That’s the kind of team that can sneak up on you if you’re not locked in. They’re hungry, they’re on their home floor, and they’ve got a go-to scorer who can change a game.
2. Mya Perry: The Engine of the Bearcats
If there’s one name Oklahoma State needs to circle on the scouting report, it’s Mya Perry.
The Florida Atlantic transfer has been a force for Cincinnati, ranking among the top five scorers in the Big 12. She’s hit double figures in every game this season and is coming off a 19-point, four-assist effort in that narrow loss to Howard. She’s the kind of player who can carry an offense - and often does.
Perry is high-volume and high-impact. She’s taken the second-most field goal attempts in the conference, averaging around 16 shots per game, and she leads the Big 12 in minutes played. That tells you everything you need to know about her role in this offense - it runs through her.
She’s not without flaws - nearly three turnovers per game - but she balances that with a knack for getting to the line. Perry draws contact, gets to the stripe over four times a game, and converts at a 78% clip. That’s a lot of pressure on opposing defenses.
If Oklahoma State can disrupt her rhythm, force her into tough shots, and limit her trips to the line, they’ll take a big piece out of Cincinnati’s offense. But that’s easier said than done. No one’s really slowed her down yet.
3. Welcome to the “Second Season”
After the win over Tulsa, Cowgirls head coach Jacie Hoyt made it clear: nonconference play is over. The “first season” was about building chemistry, testing rotations, and finding an identity. Now, it’s time for the “second season” - and in the Big 12, there are no freebies.
“Everyone is 0-0 at this point and there’s no gimme games,” Hoyt told her team. “Maybe we get to play against a team where we’re not at our best and we can still win in the noncon - that’s not a thing in the Big 12.”
She’s right. The top of the conference is loaded, and every night is a grind. But Oklahoma State looks ready for it.
Micah Gray has been in rhythm, averaging 15 points per game and providing veteran leadership in the backcourt. Amari Whiting has been a difference-maker on both ends, bringing energy and versatility.
And the frontcourt duo of Achol Akot and Stailee Heard brings rebounding, rim protection, and scoring punch. This is a roster with depth, balance, and experience - the kind that can make noise in March.
But it all starts with taking care of business in December. On paper, OSU holds the edge in nearly every major statistical category:
| Stat | Oklahoma State | Cincinnati |
|---|
| Record | 11-2 | 5-7 | | Points Per Game | 93.8 | 74.3 |
| Opponent Points Per Game | 59.8 | 68.0 | | Field Goal % | 51% | 42% |
| 3-Point % | 38% | 33% | | Free Throw % | 77% | 71% |
| Rebounds Per Game | 40.8 | 41.8 |
The Cowgirls are scoring at a blistering pace, shooting efficiently from all over the floor, and holding opponents under 60 points per game. That’s a recipe for success in any league.
But again - this is the Big 12. Nothing is guaranteed, especially on the road.
Projected Starters
Oklahoma State
- Micah Gray (Sr., 5-8) - 15.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 2.6 APG
- Haleigh Timmer (Sr., 5-11) - 14.5 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.0 APG
- Amari Whiting (Jr., 5-10) - 11.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.5 APG
- Achol Akot (So., 6-1) - 11.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 1.7 APG
- Stailee Heard (Sr., 5-11) - 10.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 2.1 APG
Cincinnati
- Mya Perry (Sr., 5-9) - 18.2 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 2.3 APG
- Reagan Jackson (Jr., 5-8) - 12.3 PPG, 2.3 RPG, 2.1 APG
- Joya Crawford (Fr., 5-8) - 4.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG, 3.0 APG
- Kylie Torrence (Fr., 6-2) - 8.4 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.2 APG
- Destiny Thomas (Sr., 5-10) - 5.7 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 0.7 APG
Bottom Line
Oklahoma State has the talent, the depth, and the numbers to make a serious run in conference play. But the Big 12 doesn’t care about your resume - it demands consistency, toughness, and execution every single night.
The Cowgirls have passed the early tests. Now, the second season begins. And it starts with a road trip to Cincinnati, where a hungry Bearcats team - and one of the league’s most dangerous scorers - will be waiting.