The Oklahoma State Cowgirls protect Gallagher-Iba on Saturday, downing the UCF Knights in a game that was never really in doubt.
STILLWATER, Okla. — The Oklahoma State Cowgirls basketball team cruised to an 81-58 victory over the UCF Knights on Saturday afternoon, February 7.
The win improved OSU’s record to 19-6 overall and 8-4 in Big 12 play, while UCF dropped to 10-13 and 2-10 in the conference.
The Cowgirls set the tone early, building a massive lead in the first half and never looking back, flaunting their depth and defensive effort on their home floor.
The game started with OSU exploding out of the gates, outscoring UCF 24-6 in the first quarter and extending that to a 47-20 halftime advantage after a 23-14 second period.
Although the Knights showed some fight in the third quarter, winning it 22-17, the Cowgirls maintained control and closed out with a 17-16 fourth.
OSU shot 48% from the field (31-64), including 36% from three (9-25), and dominated the boards with 40 rebounds compared to UCF’s 33.
They also forced 20 turnovers from the Knights, converting those into points while committing only 16 themselves.
For the Cowgirls, it was a balanced and all around attack with five players reaching double figures.
Sophomore guard Amari Whiting led the way with 15 points on 6-13 shooting, adding four rebounds and two steals.
Junior forward Jadyn Wooten was a standout all-around, posting 14 points (5-7 FG), six rebounds, and a game-high eight assists, demonstrating her playmaking ability.
Senior center Achol Akot and guard Micah Gray each chipped in 12 points, with Akot efficient at 6-8 from the field and Gray hitting 2-8 from beyond the arc while grabbing five rebounds.
Junior guard Stailee Heard contributed 11 points and led the team with eight rebounds, providing a strong presence inside.
Bench contributors like Lena Girardi (seven points) and Praise Egharevba (four points, five rebounds) helped OSU outscore UCF’s reserves 11-9.
On the UCF side, senior forward Mahogany Chandler-Roberts paced the Knights with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds, including two blocks.
Guard Jacorriah Bracey matched her with 12 points on 6-14 shooting, while forward Savannah Scott added 10 points and eight rebounds.
Sophomore guard Kristol Ayson rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points, but the Knights struggled from deep, shooting just 16% (3-19) on threes.
Turnovers plagued UCF, with Ayson and guard Summer Yancy each committing four or more, limiting their ability to mount a comeback.
This victory marked a strong bounce-back for the Cowgirls following a tough 74-69 road loss to Arizona State on February 4, where they fell short despite a valiant effort from Akot (18 points) and Heard (11 rebounds).
OSU has shown their “never say die” attitude all season, winning six of their seven games following defeats, a trait that is often hard to maintain and displays their mental toughness under head coach Jacie Hoyt.
Entering the matchup, Oklahoma State was heavily favored, with pregame odds giving them over a 60% win probability and a projected spread in their favor.
They lived up to expectations, handling business at home against a struggling UCF squad that had lost four straight entering the contest.
The win serves as another crucial building block for Oklahoma State’s push toward the NCAA Tournament.
Currently projected as an 8 or 9 seed in early bracketologies from ESPN and The Athletic, the Cowgirls are on track for their third tournament appearance in four years under Hoyt.
With a solid resume featuring wins over ranked opponents earlier in the season and strong metrics in the Big 12, this dominant performance against UCF helps their case for higher seeding.
OSU’s balanced scoring, rebounding edge, and ability to force turnovers shows a team capable of making noise in March, potentially advancing beyond the first round for the first time since 2014.
Looking ahead, the Cowgirls will hit the road to face Kansas State on February 10 in Manhattan, aiming to continue their momentum in a tough Big 12 matchup.
Meanwhile, UCF heads to Morgantown to take on No. 20/21 West Virginia on February 11, hoping to snap their five-game skid.