Cowgirls Dominate Arizona with Inside Power and Perimeter Precision
Oklahoma State showed once again why they’re one of the most dangerous teams in the Big 12 - because they can beat you in more ways than one. Whether it’s pounding the paint, locking you down on defense, or lighting it up from deep, the Cowgirls brought the full arsenal in Tucson, cruising past Arizona 88-69 in front of a fired-up crowd.
And that crowd brought it. Arizona drew a season-high 7,802 fans for this one, and early on, they had plenty to cheer about.
OSU came out trying to establish the interior, but a flurry of turnovers - eight in the first quarter alone - gave the Wildcats life. Arizona’s active hands and smart positioning led to steals, drawn charges, and six points off those giveaways.
But just when it looked like the Cowgirls might be rattled, Micah Gray stepped up. With the clock ticking down in the first quarter, Gray drilled a transition three off a steal, flipping the momentum and giving OSU its first lead at 19-17. That shot capped a 7-1 run to close the quarter, with the Cowgirls suddenly in front, 21-18 - and they never looked back.
Second Quarter Surge
The difference in the second quarter? Ball security.
After coughing it up eight times in the first, OSU didn’t commit a single turnover in the second. That control sparked a 10-0 run to open the frame, and the Cowgirls outscored Arizona 25-12 in the period.
Stailee Heard broke the seal from beyond the arc, and moments later, Jadyn Wooten picked Arizona’s Sumayah Sugapong clean and took it the other way for a layup that pushed the lead to 15. Gray added her own steal-and-score just before halftime, and the Cowgirls went into the break up 46-30.
Arizona’s Push, OSU’s Response
Credit to the Wildcats - they came out swinging in the third. Seven quick points in just over a minute cut the lead to 11 and forced a timeout from Cowgirls head coach Jacie Hoyt. Arizona even trimmed the margin to eight before OSU hit the gas again.
And once again, it was Heard who delivered the spark. She buried a timely three to stop the bleeding, and the Cowgirls rattled off a 12-0 run in under two minutes to stretch the lead to 20. OSU kept that energy rolling, closing the third quarter on a 7-0 burst to take a commanding 71-49 lead into the final period.
Closing It Out
Arizona outscored OSU 20-17 in the fourth, but the Cowgirls had already done enough damage. They kept the Wildcats at arm’s length, never letting the game slip back into single digits.
And the trio of Heard, Gray, and Achol Akot? They nearly matched Arizona’s entire team output.
Heard and Gray each dropped 23 points, while Akot added 22. That’s 68 combined - just one shy of Arizona’s 69.
Heard: Power and Precision
Stailee Heard was a force. After missing her first three-point attempt, she went on to hit her next three from deep and bullied her way to buckets in the paint. She tallied 11 rebounds to go with her 23 points, showing off her full two-way game.
Gray: No Mask, No Problem
Micah Gray, playing her first game without a protective mask, looked as confident as ever. After torching BYU for seven triples earlier in the week, she stayed hot, going 5-for-10 from deep and scoring 11 of her 23 in the fourth quarter to close things out.
Akot: Efficiency Machine
Achol Akot was surgical. She hit her first eight shots and finished 10-of-12 from the field. Add in six boards, a block, and a pair of steals, and you’ve got a near-perfect night from the forward.
The Numbers Tell the Story
OSU shot a blistering 56% from the field and hit 39% from three (9-of-23). But while the perimeter shooting was solid, the real damage came inside.
The Cowgirls dominated the glass, outrebounding Arizona 36-25, including a 9-4 edge on the offensive boards. That translated to a 10-5 advantage in second-chance points and a 50-38 edge in the paint.
What’s Next
With the win, Oklahoma State improves to 18-5 overall and 7-3 in Big 12 play. The Cowgirls continue their desert swing with a Wednesday night matchup against Arizona State in Tempe. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. inside Desert Financial Arena.
If this performance is any indication, the Sun Devils better be ready - because the Cowgirls are rolling.