The Cowgirls are making waves in their February push for an invite to the NCAA tournament - that push continues on Monday against Utah.
STILLWATER, Okla. — As the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season hurtles toward March Madness, all eyes turn to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (20-7, 9-5 Big 12) will host the Utah Utes (17-9, 8-6 Big 12) on Monday, February 16, at 1 p.m. CST.
The matchup at Gallagher-Iba Arena promises high stakes, with both teams jockeying for improved seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
Oklahoma State enters as the favorite, riding a wave of momentum, while Utah looks to pull off a road upset against a formidable home squad.
The Cowgirls have been on a tear lately, winning six straight at home and posting an impressive 14-1 record in Stillwater this season.
Under head coach Jacie Hoyt, OSU has transformed into one of the Big 12’s most explosive offenses, averaging 84.2 points per game (11th nationally) while holding opponents to 62.7.
Their recent surge includes dominant victories over conference foes like Texas Tech (82-66 on Feb. 14) and a string of blowouts against non-conference opponents earlier in the year.
This hot streak has solidified their position as fifth in the Big 12 standings, but another home win would further improve their NCAA resume, potentially locking in a top-four seed in the conference tournament and improving their chances for a favorable bracket spot come Selection Sunday.
Leading the charge for Oklahoma State is senior guard Micah Gray, who averages 14.9 points per game with efficient shooting (41.8% from the field, 35.6% from three). Gray’s scoring prowess has been key in transition plays and perimeter attacks.
Complementing her is guard Haleigh Timmer, chipping in 12.5 points and 2.0 assists per contest, shooting an impressive 43.4% from beyond the arc.
Forward Achol Akot provides interior muscle with 12.4 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds, anchoring a defense that forces 19.1 turnovers per game from opponents.
Guard Amari Whiting adds balance with 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Jadyn Wooten’s 5.3 assists highlight OSU’s unselfish ball movement (17.8 assists per game as a team).
The Cowgirls’ depth and up-tempo style, shooting 46.8% overall, make them a nightmare matchup, especially at home where they’ve outscored foes by an average of 21 points during their current streak.
As the 2025-26 women’s college basketball season hurtles toward March Madness, all eyes turn to Stillwater, Oklahoma, where the Oklahoma State Cowgirls (20-7, 9-5 Big 12) will host the Utah Utes (17-9, 8-6 Big 12) on Monday, February 16, at 1 p.m. CST. The matchup at Gallagher-Iba Arena promises high stakes, with both teams jockeying for improved seeding in the upcoming NCAA Tournament. Oklahoma State enters as the favorite, riding a wave of momentum, while Utah looks to pull off a road upset against a formidable home squad.
The Cowgirls have been on a tear lately, winning six straight at home and posting an impressive 14-1 record in Stillwater this season. Under head coach Jacie Hoyt, OSU has transformed into one of the Big 12’s most explosive offenses, averaging 84.2 points per game (11th nationally) while holding opponents to 62.7. Their recent surge includes dominant victories over conference foes like Texas Tech (82-66 on Feb. 14) and a string of blowouts against non-conference opponents earlier in the year. This hot streak has solidified their position as fifth in the Big 12 standings, but another home win would further bolster their NCAA resume, potentially locking in a top-four seed in the conference tournament and improving their chances for a favorable bracket spot come Selection Sunday.
Leading the charge for Oklahoma State is senior guard Micah Gray, who averages 14.9 points per game with efficient shooting (41.8% from the field, 35.6% from three). Gray’s scoring prowess has been key in transition plays and perimeter attacks. Complementing her is guard Haleigh Timmer, chipping in 12.5 points and 2.0 assists per contest, shooting an impressive 43.4% from beyond the arc. Forward Achol Akot provides interior muscle with 12.4 points and a team-high 7.3 rebounds, anchoring a defense that forces 19.1 turnovers per game from opponents. Guard Amari Whiting adds balance with 10.2 points and 5.8 rebounds, while Jadyn Wooten’s 5.3 assists highlight OSU’s unselfish ball movement (17.8 assists per game as a team). The Cowgirls’ depth and up-tempo style—shooting 46.8% overall—make them a nightmare matchup, especially at home where they’ve outscored foes by an average of 21 points during their current streak.
On the other side, the Utah Utes, coached by Gavin Petersen, are no strangers to tough road environments.
Sitting seventh in the Big 12, Utah has shown resilience with wins over quality opponents like Washington (recently) and non-conference foes such as Utah State (90-53 on Nov. 8).
They average 68.8 points per game, relying on a balanced attack and strong rebounding (39.6 per game). However, their defense allows 64.2 points, which could be tested against OSU’s high-octane offense.
A victory here would be a massive resume booster for Utah, helping them climb toward a top-six seed in the Big 12 tourney and securing a stronger at-large bid for the NCAAs, where they’re projected as a bubble team.
Utah’s offense revolves around guard Lani White, their leading scorer at 15.5 points per game on 47.0% shooting (41.0% from three).
White’s versatility—she also grabs 4.9 rebounds—makes her a matchup problem. Forward Reese Ross dominates the glass with 8.5 rebounds and 9.6 points, shooting 47.8% inside.
Guard Maty Wilke contributes 10.6 points and 2.3 assists, with a 34.8% three-point clip, while LA Sneed orchestrates the offense with 3.5 assists per game. The Utes shoot 43.1% as a team and excel in ball security (17.2 turnovers forced), but they’ll need to contain OSU’s perimeter shooting to have a shot at the upset.
This game pits OSU’s offensive firepower against Utah’s gritty defense, with implications rippling into postseason positioning.
Both squads are firmly in the NCAA mix, OSU as a likely 5-7 seed nationally, Utah aiming for 8-10, but a win could vault the victor into better regional placements and avoid early matchups with powerhouses like South Carolina or Iowa.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma State will hit the road to face Iowa State on February 19, a tough test against another top Big 12 contender.
Utah, meanwhile, returns home to host rival BYU on February 21, offering a chance to build momentum before the conference tournament.
Expect an intense battle in Stillwater!