Cowgirl Hoops: Three Things to Know about OSU’s Big 12 Opener at Cincinnati

The Cowgirls open their Big 12 schedule with a trip to Cincinnati to face a struggling Bearcat squad, but this is not time for overlooking.

Oklahoma State (11-2) comes in as one of the most potent scoring offenses in the country and with a not-so-sneaky good defense. After falling to a Top 10 Oklahoma team last weekend, the Cowgirls bounced back in a big way against Tulsa. But now it’s the “second season,” and OSU will be afforded no more gimmes.

Here are three things to think about ahead of the Cowgirls’ Big 12 opener.

1. Bearcats Stumbling into Big 12 Play

Cincinnati, on the other hand, has not had the lead-in to Big 12 play that they would have wanted. Cincinnati was picked to finish 12th in the conference this past October, but the Bearcats are the only team entering Big 12 play with a losing record.

Cincy is 5-7 and has lost three of four, though most of those have been close. UC is coming off a 66-64 loss to Howard when they had a buzzer shot to tie it, and the Bearcats loss to Miami (OH) in overtime and by seven to Xavier after that.

2. Mya Perry is on a Tear

The Cowgirls will spend a good chunk of their scouting report focused on Florida Atlantic transfer Mya Perry.

Perry is the Big 12’s No. 5 scorer, as of writing, and has been on a tear. Even while her team has struggled, and even though she is the aforementioned focal point of opposing teams.

Perry has scored in double digits in every game this season and is coming off a 19-point, four-assist outing in that heartbreaking loss to Howard. Perry has a high usage rate, having attempted the second-most field goals in the Big 12, averaging about 16 per game. She also leads the league in minutes played.

With the ball in her hands that much, she is averaging nearly three turnovers per game. But she also gets to the line a lot, taking over four foul shots per game and is shooting 78% when she gets there.

All that to say, Cincy’s offense runs through Perry. If the Cowgirls can slow her down, they’ll go a long way in keeping this from being a closer result than it feels like it should be. But no one has been able to slow her down yet.

3. Enter Second Season

Every game matters from here out. Take a look at six games that might matter even more, though.

Following Oklahoma State’s win over Tulsa Monday night, coach Jacie Hoyt told her team that “first season” (the nonconference) is over and now it’s time for “second season.”

“Everyone is 0-0 at this point and there’s no gimme games,” Hoyt said. “… Maybe we get to play against a team where we’re not at our best and we can still win in the noncon, that’s not a thing in the Big 12. It challenges you to be at your best in every single night and the top of the Big 12 is crazy, crazy good right now.

“So we’re excited. Our team is very motivated. They’re very hungry. Everything up until now has been a measuring stick for us. Now we’re excited to get to conference play.”

There has been a lot of buzz about the Cowgirls’ loaded roster. They are firing on most cylinders, but now the rubber meets the road. Micah Gray is cooking. Amari Whiting has been a huge add on both sides of the ball. The roster is littered with talent both young and experienced.

The Cowgirls have all the pieces to continue this hot streak into conference play, and they have all the pieces to make a run into March. Now they just have to do it and that starts on Sunday in Cincy.

Viewing Info

Time: 1 p.m. Sunday
Location: Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati, Ohio
Watch: ESPN+

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