The Cowgirls will face No. 9 seed Princeton Tigers in Round One of the Women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament — Can Hoyt and crew make it past round one & two?
How far do you have the Cowgirls going in March?
LOS ANGELES, CA — The Oklahoma State Cowgirls women’s basketball team has secured the eighth seed in the Sacramento Region 2 of the 2026 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, setting the stage for a tough postseason run.
After a solid regular season that saw them finish with a 23-9 overall record and 12-6 in Big 12 play, the Cowgirls are poised to make noise, though challenges loom large.
Their first round matchup pits them against the ninth seeded Princeton Tigers on Saturday, March 21, 2026, at Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California.
The game time is to be announced, but it will be part of the first-round action hosted by top seeded UCLA.
This neutral site opener in a storied arena adds an extra layer of excitement, but also some difficulty for OSU as they’ll be far from their home court in Stillwater.
Princeton, boasting a 26-3 record, enters as Ivy League champions and a team known for its disciplined, high IQ play.
The Tigers run a motion offense that emphasizes cutting, screening, and three-point shooting, with a strong defensive identity that ranks among the best in limiting opponents’ efficiency.
Princeton has gone 5-2 against Quadrant 1 and 2 opponents this season, showing they can hang with top-tier teams.
For OSU, expect a battle of tempos: the Cowgirls’ high scoring attack (81.5 points per game, second in the Big 12) will test Princeton’s defense, while OSU must contain the Tigers’ balanced scoring led by guards who excel in perimeter play.
Adding a fun historical twist, Oklahoma State - back when it was Oklahoma A&M - was once nicknamed the Tigers, adopting the moniker and orange and black colors in homage to Princeton, earning the label “Princeton of the Prairie” in the early 1900s.
If the Cowgirls advance past Princeton, they’ll likely face the region’s top seed, the UCLA Bruins, who boast a dominant 31-1 record and will enjoy what amounts to a home game at Pauley Pavilion.
UCLA’s star-studded lineup, featuring elite rebounding and scoring inside, would present a massive challenge for OSU in front of a likely heavy blue & gold crowd.
This potential matchup highlights OSU’s home road splits this season. Under head coach Jacie Hoyt, now in her fourth year, the Cowgirls have been almost unbeatable at Gallagher-Iba Arena, going 16-1 at home. Over the past two seasons, they’ve compiled a wild 33-2 home record, showing how good they are in Stillwater.
However, road woes have plagued them: OSU finished just 7-8 away from home, struggling with consistency in hostile environments. This was evident in their Big 12 Tournament exit, where they fell 74-73 in the quarterfinals to Kansas State in Kansas City, a venue that felt like a home game for the Wildcats due to proximity and fan support. A controversial foul call in the final seconds sealed their fate, leaving the team motivated but, again, showing their vulnerabilities on the road.
Key players like senior guard Micah Gray (13.8 points per game) and junior forward Achol Akot (7.3 rebounds per game) will need to step up for OSU to succeed. The Cowgirls’ balanced offense, with six players averaging between 9.9 and 13.8 points, could overwhelm Princeton if they control the pace.
I believe Oklahoma State will beat Princeton in the first round as their scoring depth and experience in a tough Big 12 should edge out the Tigers in a close contest. But advancing further, to be fair and honest, might take an act of God.
Beating UCLA in Los Angeles, with the Bruins’ talent and home-court advantage, seems improbable.
Overall, the Cowgirls have had a great season, tying a league record with eight Big 12 teams in the tournament and marking their 19th NCAA appearance. Yet, they’ll probably run into a buzzsaw Bruins team in the second round and ultimately be eliminated before reaching the Sweet 16 — though anything can happen in March!
Hoyt has built a program on the rise, but this bracket draw shows the need for better road play from the Cowgirls moving forward into the 2026-2027 season.