Recap: Stailee Heard’s Career Game Helps Oklahoma State Hold Off Texas Tech 71-68

The Cowgirls were in control for three quarters before they got essentially shut down in the fourth. But they still found a way to win, and OSU is off to its best start in more than a decade.

Oklahoma State defeated Texas Tech 71-68 in Lubbock behind an impressive 34-point performance by sophomore Stailee Heard.

The Cowgirls took their first lead less than three minutes into the first quarter, and they never relinquished it. Heard was lights-out for most of the afternoon and set a new career high in points. But there was a whole other game played in the fourth quarter — one the Cowgirls lost — and the fact that Oklahoma State survived it shows just how far this team has come.

The Cowgirls came in outscoring opponents 21.7-13.3 in first quarters, and they continued that trend with a 16-11 opening frame against Tech.

Heard hit the ground running. She scored 12 of OSU’s 16 points in the first. She had 21 points midway through the third quarter. At times, she looked unguardable, bullying defenders in the paint, knocking down her first two 3-point attempts and making an impact on both sides of the court. She had a block and four steals.

Outrunning everyone 🏃‍♀️💨@StaileeHeard32 pic.twitter.com/Ij81MhXdeX

— OSU Cowgirl Basketball (@OSUWBB) January 25, 2025

Oklahoma State kept Tech at arm’s length throughout the first half thanks to some lights-out shooting all around. OSU shot 50% in the first quarter, 61.5% in the second and 63.6% in the third. The Lady Raiders’ last two opponents combined to shoot just 36%. By the end of the third quarter, it looked like OSU might double that. The Cowgirls were also 4-for-7 from 3 entering the fourth.

Tech got the home crowd back into it with a little run late in the third quarter. The Cowgirls pushed back, ending the period ended on a non-traditional four-point play when an Alexia Smith made jumper was combined with a foul underneath against Heard. She made both free throws to secure a 59-45 lead heading into the fourth.

OSU extended its lead back to 16 before the Lady Raiders went on a 7-0 run early in the fourth to pull within 61-52. The Cowgirls pushed back more before Tech went on an 9-0 run thanks to a more traditional four-point play when Tech’s Bailey Maupin was fouled on a made 3. Maupin did her best to go toe-to-toe with Heard, scoring 24 points for the home team including eight in the fourth. And it looked like she was going to get the chance to play hero.

Heard, and the Cowgirls in large, cooled off in the final frame. But then, when it looked like the Cowgirls might succumb to a dramatic comeback by Tech, she showed she was cold-blooded.

The Cowgirls shot just 2-of-12 in the fourth and ended the game making just one of their final 11 field-goal attempts. There were no made OSU field goals for the last 7:55 of gametime. Credit Tech’s stingy defense, including employing full-court pressure for much of the second half. But when shots stopped falling, Heard went to the paint and forced the issue. She went 6-of-8 from the line in the fourth quarter, including four straight to seal the win.

The Lady Raiders got as close as 64-63 with 2:22 left and were down just two with 58 seconds to go.

With 28 seconds remaining, and after a lengthy out-of-bounds review that went the Cowgirls’ way, Heard was fouled on a shot about a second before OSU would have been called for a shot-clock violation. Despite splitting free throws on her previous two trips to the line, in cold-blooded fashion, Heard knocked down both shots to give OSU a four-point lead. Then, after a missed 3-pointer by Maupin landed out of bounds, the Red Raiders had to foul Heard with 14 ticks to go. She made both of those, as well.

Tech’s Jada Wynn made a 3 with 0.7 seconds on the clock to pull within 71-68, but the Cowgirls held on to win it.

OSU finished the game shooting 48% from the field and 40% from 3. The Cowgirls out-rebounded Tech 33-21 and held a 17-11 advantage in second-chance points. They held the Raiders to 44% shooting and 29% from beyond the arc.

Maybe an end-to-end domination would be preferred, if not easier on the blood pressure, but the Cardiac Cowgirls showed that they have the ability to grind out a tough win on the road when things aren’t going their way. And Heard showed that she can almost will the Cowgirls to a win.

Heard led all scorers with her career-high 34 points on 10-of-19 shooting. She also tied the team-high with seven rebounds. Micah Gray scored 17 points on 11 shots, 13 of those coming in the third quarter.

Back in the Top 25?

The Cowgirls sneaked into the AP ranking two weeks ago at 24 before falling to Houston. Since then, they’ve defeated No. 9 TCU and earned this hard-fought win on the road.

With the win, OSU moves to 17-3 and 7-2 in conference. Next up, the Cowgirls return home to host Arizona State at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The Sun Devils are 8-12 and 2-6 in Big 12 play, as of writing. The Bearcats will try to end their five-game skid playing host to Cincinnati on Saturday night.