Oklahoma State Downs No. 16 Texas Tech 75-65

BOXSCORE

The Cowgirls needed a signature win, and they got one.

Oklahoma State defeated No. 16 Texas Tech 75-65 behind some stellar defense and an impressive bounce back on the offensive end of the court.

March is coming quick, and the Cowgirls just picked up their best win of the season. After dropping back to a projected 8 seed in ESPN’s Bracketology following their road loss to Kansas State, the Cowgirls rebounded with their first Quad 1 win of the season.

The Red Raiders employed their full-court press pretty much from the opening possession, but the Cowgirls guard-heavy lineup is not so easy to trip up. With a court full of proficient ball-handlers, the Cowgirls were able to break up the press and take advantage of numbers in transition.

Texas Tech started 5-of-7 from the field and built an early 10-6 lead before the Cowgirls battled back. The teams ended the first quarter about equal with Tech up 15-14 and the teams shooting 46.7% and 46.2%, but the tide was already turning in the Cowgirls’ favor.

The Cowgirls took their first lead 16 seconds in the second quarter, and then proceeded to outscore the Red Raiders 22-9 to take that 12-point lead into halftime. They did it playing to their strengths and giving Tech a dose of its own medicine. The Cowgirls went 4-for-6 from 3-point range in the second and clamped down on the Red Raiders.

While OSU made nine shots on six assists, the Cowgirls stifled Tech’s offense. The Red Raiders were just 4-of-16 in the period with only one assist.  Tech finished the half on a 3:18 scoring drought, making just one of its final eight attempts and going into the break missing five straight shots. OSU turned Tech into a jump-shooting team

The Red Raiders started the third with some urgency. After going 1-for-5 in the first half, Tech’s leading scorer Bailey Maupin drained a 3-pointer on the first possession of the third and then made two free throws off a steal on the inbounds pass for her very own 5-0 run. It created an opening for the Red Raiders to steal back some of the momentum, but Stailee Heard slammed it shut.

While doubled on an inbounds play, Heard cleared out with an elbow, splitting the double and raced down the floor and set up Jadyn Wooten on a runout layup. That started an 8-0 run that put the Cowgirls back in the driver’s seat.

The Cowgirls did a good job of handling Tech’s pressure in the first half, but the trailing Raiders ramped up their pressure in the second. After just six turnovers for four points in the first two quarters, OSU was forced into eight for seven points in the third quarter alone. But the Cowgirls were able to continue their stellar defense, holding Tech to just 3-of-9 from the field and 1-for-5 from deep in the third.

Early in the season, the Cowgirls gave up a lead late to fall to No. 22 Baylor. That wasn’t going to happen this time. Each time it looked like Tech might be gaining a a little ground, the Cowgirls went on a little run or made a big defensive stop or found an open 3-point shooter to retake the momentum and fire up the faithful inside GIA.

The quarter ended 15-14 in OSU’s favor give the Cowgirls a 51-38 lead with 10 minutes to go. Tech kept on swinging, but the Cowgirls made the plays to keep the Red Raiders at arm’s length.

Stailee Heard scored seven of her 12 points in the fourth quarter including plays like this.

Too much room for @StaileeHeard32! #GoPokes pic.twitter.com/DvtFCHul2z

— OSU Cowgirl Basketball (@OSUWBB) February 14, 2026

Four of the Cowgirls’ five starters ended in double digits with Micah Gray scoring nine. But it was Jadyn Wooten’s dramatic bounce-back performance off the bench that drove the Cowgirls to the win. After going scoreless with one assist and three turnovers on Tuesday, she led OSU with 16 points on 7-of-10 shooting. She dished out seven assists to just two turnovers and grabbed three boards. But beyond what the boxscore shows, Wooten was the Cowgirls’ motor against a really tough defense.

Amari Whiting added a 13-11 double-double and dished out three assists. Achol Akot had 13 as well with four boards. Hayleigh Timmer and Heard each had 12 points and each had big quarters. Heard’s was in the fourth, but Timmer scored eight to help OSU take control in the second quarter, including two big 3s.

With the win, the Cowgirls improve to 20-7 and 9-5 in the Big 12. Next up, they host Utah at 1 p.m. on Monday inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. With the Utes currently sitting at No. 50 in the NET rankings, that would give OSU a Quad 2 opportunity and GIA should still be lively following Saturday’s big win.