Cowgirl Hoops: Three Things to Know Before Oklahoma State Faces Oklahoma

It will be a day full of Bedlam hoops in OKC, but the Cowgirls’ bout will be the only one featuring ranked teams.

No. 23 Oklahoma State will face No. 9 Oklahoma at 3 p.m. at Paycom Center.

The Cowgirls are 10-1 and riding a five-game win streak since their sole loss to St. John’s nearly a month ago. They will be coming off a week’s rest since incinerating Mississippi Valley State 133-46. The Sooners will be less rested, hosting Little Rock on Thursday night.

Let’s take a look at the matchup, here are three things to know before tipoff.

In the Rankings

OSU might have the edge in offense, but OU makes up some ground on defense and rebounding.

The Cowgirls’ 96.4 points per game rank second nationally and leads the Big 12. The Sooners’ 93 ppg is fourth nationally and leads the SEC. OU ranks eighth nationally in opponent FG% and second holding teams to just 32.8% on two-point attempts. The Sooners lead the nation in rebounding. See comparisons below.

Neutral Site the Key?

For all that she’s done to build OSU’s program back up, Jacie Hoyt has yet to topple that in-state foe. Maybe a neutral site will be the key to getting her over the hump.

Oklahoma State has lost six straight to Oklahoma, dating back to the 2021-22 season. Their last Bedlam win was in the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City on March 12, 2021. That was also the last time these two teams met outside of either Stillwater or Norman. Maybe that the neutral ground is what the Cowgirls need?

In all seriousness, the Cowgirls look to be hitting their stride after an epic beatdown of Mississippi Valley State. We’ll have to see how OU looks on Thursday night against Little Rock, but both teams should be ready for a big-time matchup in OKC.

The Big 12 is Coming

The Cowgirls shouldn’t look past the Sooners, but we can.

OSU will have a quick turnaround when the Cowgirls host Tulsa on Monday night and then conference play starts on Sunday, Dec. 21 with a trip to Cincinnati to face the Bearcats.

The Cowgirls will look to follow up their third-place finish in the Big 12 last year and their best conference win percentage since 1990-91 when OSU was still in the Big 8. The conference schedule is tough which might make this Bedlam game a good ramp-up to stiffer competition.

After Cincy, the Cowgirls host No. 13 Baylor. A week later, they’ll head to Ft. Worth to face No. 8 TCU and then will No. 10 Iowa State on Jan. 17. Including Saturday’s matchup with the Sooners that’s four current Top 15 opponents in the next month or so. There is still a lot to shake out in the rankings as conferences start to cannibalize each other, but Saturday’s matchup in OKC essentially signals the end of the nonconference for OSU.

Viewing Info

Time: 3 p.m. Saturday
Location: Paycom Center
Watch: ESPNU

Team Stats

Last Game Starters