In the heart of Tempe, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls battled fiercely but came up just short in a gripping 74-69 loss to Arizona State on Wednesday night, February 4, closing out their Arizona road trip with a split after dominating Arizona days earlier.
TEMPE, Arizona -- The Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team wrapped up a challenging Arizona road trip on Wednesday night, February 4, falling to the Arizona State Sun Devils 74-69 at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
The loss dropped OSU to 18-6 overall and 7-4 in Big 12 play, while ASU improved to 19-5 and 6-5 in conference action.
The Cowgirls entered the contest riding momentum from their dominant performance earlier in the trip, where they cruised past Arizona 88-69 on Sunday, February 1, in Tucson.
That victory showcased OSU's high-powered offense, as they shot efficiently, dominated the boards (36-25 rebounding edge), and limited the Wildcats' scoring opportunities.
The Arizona win marked a strong start to the two-game swing, highlighting the team's ability to control games on the road against Pac-12 holdovers now in the Big 12.
Against Arizona State, however, the Cowgirls struggled to maintain that same level of execution. OSU held a slim 14-13 lead after the first quarter but trailed 31-29 at halftime following a Sun Devil buzzer-beater.
Arizona State pulled away in the third quarter, shooting 58 percent from the field in the second half and connecting on 4-of-9 three-pointers to build a cushion.
The Sun Devils' defense clamped down, particularly in limiting OSU's trademark three-point shooting, the Cowgirls, who rank among the nation's best in threes per game, were held well below their season average.
Despite the deficit, Oklahoma State fought back in the fourth quarter with a 22-point effort, but it wasn't enough to overcome ASU's balanced attack.
The game remained close throughout, fitting ASU's strong record in tight contests (now 5-1 in games decided by five points or less).
Key contributions came from players on both sides, though specific individual stats underscored Arizona State's edge in second-half efficiency and rebounding battles.
The road trip results left the Cowgirls with a split: winning one of two games in Arizona. They certainly would've preferred to sweep both matchups to solidify their position in the crowded Big 12 standings, where they're tied for fifth but just one game ahead of several pursuers.
The split still represents a solid showing on a tough swing, demonstrating toughness and offensive success in one contest while exposing areas for improvement in closing out games against other opponents.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State returns home to face UCF on Saturday, February 7, at 2:00 p.m. CT in Stillwater, aiming to bounce back and protect their standing.
Arizona State, buoyed by the win, hits the road next to take on Baylor on Saturday, February 7, at 5:00 p.m. CT in Waco, Texas, as they push to climb higher in the conference hierarchy.
Overall, the loss stings for OSU, but the Arizona trip provided valuable Big 12 experience as the season enters its final stretch toward postseason play and hopefully an invite to the "Big Dance".