Oklahoma State Cowgirls fall to Baylor after falling apart in the final period
STILLWATER, Okla. —
In a dramatic Big 12 women’s basketball matchup on December 31, 2025, the No. 22 Baylor Bears overcame a 19-point deficit in the second half to secure a 77-68 victory over the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
The game, which saw both teams enter with identical 11-3 records and 0-1 conference marks, showcased resilience from Baylor and a heartbreaking collapse for the home team. After the win, Baylor improved to 12-3 overall and 1-1 in the Big 12, while Oklahoma State dropped to 12-3 and 1-1.
The contest started competitively, with Baylor holding a slim 16-14 lead after the first quarter. Oklahoma State flipped the script in the second, outscoring the Bears 21-16 to take a 35-32 advantage into halftime. Jadyn Wooten was instrumental for the Cowgirls early on, scoring 14 of her game-high 16 points in the first half, including the last six in an 11-1 run that gave OSU a 35-25 lead late in the period.
Baylor’s Taliah Scott kept her team in it, hitting a 3-pointer and a jumper to narrow the gap before the break.
The third quarter belonged to Oklahoma State, as they exploded for a 19-4 run to open the period, building a commanding 54-36 lead with 3:41 remaining. Stailee Heard contributed seven points in the surge, Achol Akot added six, and Micah Gray drained back-to-back 3-pointers just 29 seconds apart. Akot later sank two free throws to push the Cowgirls’ advantage to 19 points.
However, Baylor clawed back with the final seven points of the quarter, trimming the deficit to 60-48 heading into the fourth.
The final period was a masterclass in comeback basketball for the Bears, who outscored Oklahoma State 29-8 while holding the Cowgirls to a dismal 3-of-15 shooting from the field. Jana Van Gytenbeek sparked the rally with eight of her 17 points in the fourth, including key 3-pointers, while dishing out a game-high eight assists overall.
Scott led all scorers with 24 points, going an impressive 13-of-15 from the free-throw line. Kayla Nelms added 10 points and eight rebounds for Baylor, providing crucial support on the boards where the Bears were outrebounded 39-34 but made up for it with better efficiency.
For Oklahoma State, Akot recorded a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Gray and Heard each contributed 14 and 10 points, respectively. Amari Whiting also reached double figures with 10 points and seven rebounds.
Despite their strong start, the Cowgirls’ offense stalled late, committing 16 turnovers compared to Baylor’s 13, and shooting just 19% from beyond the arc (5-of-26).
Team shooting was close, with Baylor at 42% from the field (25-of-60) and Oklahoma State at 41% (26-of-64). The Bears excelled from deep, hitting 7-of-20 threes (35%), and dominated at the foul line, where OSU’s 24 personal fouls led to Baylor attempting 28 free throws (making 20). Oklahoma State, in contrast, went 11-of-15 from the stripe.
This win marks a significant bounce-back for Baylor after their conference opener loss, highlighting their depth and ability to perform under pressure.
Coach Nicki Collen praised her team’s fourth-quarter execution in postgame comments, noting the importance of defensive stops in fueling the comeback. For Oklahoma State, the loss stings as they squandered a golden opportunity at home, with Coach Jacie Hoyt emphasizing the need to maintain intensity throughout all four quarters.
Looking ahead, Baylor will aim to build momentum in their next Big 12 tilt, while Oklahoma State seeks to regroup.
This game serves as a reminder of the unpredictability in women’s college basketball, where no lead is safe in the competitive Big 12 conference. Fans can expect more high-stakes battles as the season progresses into 2026.