The Oklahoma State Cowgirls have earned plenty of attention for their high-powered offense - they’re the No. 2 scoring team in the country, after all - but what really makes this team tick is their defense. It’s the kind of gritty, relentless effort on that end of the floor that not only sets the tone but fuels everything they do offensively.
That identity was on full display Monday night against Tulsa, just two days after a humbling loss to Oklahoma. In that game, the Cowgirls looked out of sorts - uncharacteristic turnovers, off-target shooting, and a general lack of rhythm.
But against the Golden Hurricane, they flipped the script. Oklahoma State forced 31 turnovers and turned them into 33 points.
That’s not just a bounce-back - that’s a statement.
Head coach Jacie Hoyt pointed to one player in particular who embodies that defensive-first mindset: Amari Whiting. The BYU transfer has quickly become a cornerstone for the Cowgirls, and Monday night she reminded everyone why.
Whiting poured in 18 points on just 12 shots, including three from beyond the arc. It was a sharp contrast to her previous outing, where she scored just four points on 2-of-8 shooting.
But what stood out more than her scoring was how she got there - through defense.
Whiting was everywhere. She pestered ball handlers, jumped passing lanes, and finished with a team-high eight stops and multiple steals.
Her pressure at the point of attack didn’t just disrupt Tulsa’s offense - it ignited Oklahoma State’s. And that’s exactly what Hoyt wants to see.
“Everything starts with her, defensively for us,” Hoyt said after the game. “She does a great job of picking up the ball full court and making it hard on our opponents. I don’t know that her defense is talked about enough.”
Hoyt also gave a nod to Hayleigh Timmer, who had five steals of her own, but made it clear that Whiting’s on-ball pressure is the catalyst. “When Amari’s picking up and guarding like that, we’re really good and she knows that. I think that was the easiest way for her to get back to who she is.”
And who she is, frankly, is one of the most complete two-way guards in the Big 12.
Whiting’s numbers back it up. In her two seasons at BYU and now in her first year in Stillwater, she’s consistently averaged double-digit points, along with at least five rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
This season, she’s taken her shooting to another level, knocking down a career-best 44.7% from three. That’s elite efficiency, especially for a player who spends so much energy on the defensive end.
Defensively, she leads the Cowgirls in steals per game (2.3) and steal percentage (4.3), and she’s the only OSU player ranked in the Big 12’s Top 20 in both offensive and defensive win shares - 13th and 16th, respectively. That’s the kind of impact that doesn’t always show up in highlight reels but wins games.
“That’s always been my game,” Whiting said. “I start defensively and that flows into my offense, and it flows into our game.
I feel like we are really good in transition and running and that comes with stops. So if we can get a stop and kick it up and spray and outrun a team, that’s how we get going.
“I just feel like it takes heart. If nothing is going my way offensively, I know I can get it done defensively.
I just know my role for the team and I love defense. It’s great.”
That mindset is exactly what Hoyt wanted to re-establish after the OU loss. With Big 12 play looming - what Hoyt calls the “second season” - getting back to their defensive roots wasn’t just a priority, it was non-negotiable. And Monday night showed they’re ready to bring that edge into conference play.
The Cowgirls open their Big 12 slate on Sunday at Cincinnati, and if Whiting and the rest of this squad can keep dictating the game with their defense, they’ll be a problem for anyone in the league.