Cowgirls Start Big 12 Play with Win against Iowa State

Just 10 days after giving birth, Jacie Hoyt was on the sidelines of Eddie Sutton Court coaching the Cowgirls to a Big 12-opening win — an epic “Ball Is Life” moment.

Oklahoma State beat Iowa State 81-75 on Saturday in Gallagher-Iba Arena. Both teams entered the game receiving votes in the AP Poll — a poll the Cowgirls haven’t appeared in the Top 25 in since the 2017-18 season. OSU is now 11-1 on the season with the 1-0 start in Big 12 play.

The high-scoring Cowgirls raced out to a 41-29 lead at halftime off the back of a combined 21 points from Micah Gray and Anna Gret Asi. But the Cyclones’ best player got rolling coming out of halftime, as Audi Crooks scored 17 of her 28 points in the third quarter. OSU’s lead was down to 61-57 after three.

The Cyclones then battled back to a tie  at 67 with 4:40 to play when Arianna Jackson and Sydney Harris hit back-to-back 3s. From there, it was a battle.

Gray broke the tie with a contested layup. After a Cyclone free throw, Gray and Asi scored six consecutive points via the long ball to push the Cowgirls’ lead back to 75-68.

ELECTRIC.#GoPokes | 📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/zvRDEModWc

— OSU Cowgirl Basketball (@OSUWBB) December 21, 2024

A Praise Egharevba bucket and a quartet of free throws fended off Iowa State from there.

Gray led the Cowgirls with 24 points, going 6-for-11 from 3-point range. Asi added 21, going 3-for-7 from 3 and 10-for-10 from the foul line. Alexia Smith also scored in double figures, adding 10 points to go with seven rebounds. Smith and Stailee Heard were +21 and +20, respectively, in plus/minus, meaning OSU was much better than the Cyclones with those two on the floor.

The Cowgirls return to action Jan. 1 against Baylor in Waco.