A last second foul and one of the resulting free throws knock the Cowgirls out of the Big 12 Tournament, losing to Kansas State 74-73
KANSAS CITY, MO — In a thrilling finish at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, the No. 4-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls suffered a 74-73 loss to the No. 12-seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday.
The game, which came down to the final seconds, again shows the Cowgirls’ persistent struggles away from home and dashed their hopes for a deeper tournament run.
The matchup felt like a home game for Kansas State from the tip-off. With Kansas City just a short drive from Manhattan, Kansas, Wildcats fans dominated the arena, creating a home court like atmosphere that echoed throughout the game.
The crowd noise was particularly evident during parts of the game, energizing Kansas State while putting additional pressure on Oklahoma State, who have battled road woes all season.
The Cowgirls entered the game with a 5-6 record in true away games, often faltering in hostile environments, and this neutral-site clash amplified those issues as the crowd roared for every Wildcats bucket.
Oklahoma State started strong, building a lead in the third quarter and entering the fourth with a 54-53 advantage. However, Kansas State mounted a comeback, fueled by hot shooting and defensive stops.
The Wildcats shot an impressive 54% from the field overall, including 46% from beyond the arc (12-of-26), while forcing 15 turnovers from the Cowgirls. Oklahoma State countered with 52% field goal shooting and a 45% mark from three (9-of-20), but their 67% free-throw performance (8-of-12) and rebounding edge (31-23) weren’t enough to overcome late mistakes.
For Kansas State, freshman Jordan Speiser erupted for a career-high 21 points, including 5-of-10 from three-point range, with 18 points coming in the second half to spark the rally.
Nastja Claessens added 15 points, five rebounds, and five assists, while Aniya Foy chipped in 11 points. Taryn Sides scored 10, and Tess Heal, despite a quiet 3 points, delivered the clutch moment.
On the Oklahoma State side, Stailee Heard led with 18 points and eight rebounds, showcasing her all-around game.
Jadyn Wooten added 16 points and five assists, while Haleigh Timmer scored 13, including critical shots late. Amari Whiting posted a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Achol Akot contributed eight points and five rebounds.
The Cowgirls’ 14 assists reflected solid ball movement, but 15 turnovers proved costly against Kansas State’s 12 steals.
The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster. Kansas State clawed back from a double-digit deficit earlier, tying the game multiple times.
With under a minute left, Speiser drained a three-pointer with 15.5 seconds remaining to give the Wildcats a 73-68 lead.
Oklahoma State fought back furiously with two late free throws and narrowed the gap and then Timmer nailed a crucial three-pointer to tie the game at 73-73 with seconds ticking down.
But disaster struck when Heard committed a costly foul on Heal with under two seconds to play. Heal stepped to the line and sank the go-ahead free throw (making 1-of-2), sealing the 74-73 victory as the final buzzer sounded on Oklahoma State’s desperate heave.
This upset marks Kansas State’s third straight tournament win, following their comeback victory over No. 5 Texas Tech the day prior, solidifying their Cinderella status.
For Oklahoma State, now 23-9, the loss stings beyond the immediate elimination. The Cowgirls are still projected to make the NCAA Tournament, thanks to their strong regular-season resume, including a 12-6 Big 12 record and wins over ranked opponents. However, this early exit squanders their chance for better seeding, likely dropping them to a 7- or 8-seed instead of a potential 4 or 5.
Despite the heartbreak, coach Jacie Hoyt’s squad showed their typical toughness, battling through injuries and inconsistencies all year. Though, as they shift focus to March Madness, addressing those road demons will be key.