No. 19 Oklahoma State Stunned by Tulsa in Overtime

TULSA, Okla. — Oklahoma State women's basketball entered Thursday's matchup against Tulsa unbeaten and ranked No. 19 nationally.

The Cowgirls left with their first loss of the season. Tulsa stunned OSU 64-62 in overtime, earning its first victory over a Top 25 opponent in program history while exposing offensive struggles that plagued the Cowgirls throughout the night. Oklahoma State fell to 3-1 despite winning the rebounding battle 45-40 and forcing 21 Tulsa turnovers.

The biggest difference came from beyond the arc. The Cowgirls shot just 4-for-23 from three-point range and 23-for-69 overall, finishing at 33% from the field. Tulsa, meanwhile, knocked down 10 three-pointers after entering the contest with only seven makes through its previous games.

Mady Cartwright led Tulsa with 17 points, matching Oklahoma State's Audi Crooks for the game high. Liv McGill added 13 points and nine assists for the Cowgirls but shot 5-for-17 from the field and committed five turnovers.

A Slow Start for Oklahoma State

Tulsa established early that the Cowgirls wouldn't have another comfortable night. After Crooks scored Oklahoma State's first four points, Alisha Peavy connected from three-point range to give Tulsa a 5-4 advantage, marking the first time Oklahoma State had trailed this season.

The Golden Hurricane continued answering Oklahoma State's attempts to gain momentum. Cartwright scored just before the first-quarter buzzer to give Tulsa a 16-14 lead and added timely baskets in the second quarter.

Oklahoma State struggled to generate consistent offense, shooting 9-for-36 from the field and 1-for-15 from beyond the arc in the first half. Tulsa carried a 26-22 advantage into halftime, with Cartwright scoring 10 points and Crooks leading the Cowgirls with eight.

Cowgirls Rally in the Third Quarter

Oklahoma State finally found an offensive rhythm after halftime. Crooks scored inside to reach double figures, while Yuting Deng provided a much-needed perimeter spark. Deng knocked down a wing jumper and later connected from three-point range as Oklahoma State erased Tulsa's advantage.

McGill also attacked the basket aggressively, finishing through traffic and converting second-chance opportunities. The Cowgirls eventually took a 41-38 lead into the fourth quarter after shooting 50% in the third.

But the offensive momentum didn't last. Oklahoma State went more than six minutes without a field goal to begin the fourth quarter, allowing Tulsa to regain the lead.

McGill finally broke the drought with a driving layup at the 3:52 mark, putting Oklahoma State ahead 47-45. The teams traded late baskets and free throws before Tulsa tied the game at 51 with 58 seconds remaining. Oklahoma State had an opportunity to win in regulation, but missed shots on its final possession sent the contest to overtime.

Tulsa Delivers in Overtime

The Golden Hurricane immediately seized control of the extra period. Jade Clack opened overtime with a three-pointer, and Dora Toman followed with another from beyond the arc. Cartwright then connected from deep to extend Tulsa's lead to 60-53 with 3:25 remaining.

Oklahoma State refused to go away. Callin Hake buried a corner three, and Crooks scored consecutive baskets inside to bring the Cowgirls back even at 62. However, Tulsa regained the lead when Alexa Kinas made two free throws following a foul on Hake with 38 seconds remaining.

The Cowgirls had multiple chances to answer. McGill missed a three-pointer, but Tulsa committed a traveling violation while attempting to secure the rebound. Oklahoma State then missed another opportunity before getting the ball back with three seconds remaining.

But an errant inbound pass resulted in a turnover, sealing Tulsa's historic victory. The Golden Hurricane did not make a field goal over the final 3:25 of overtime, yet still held on.

An Early Wake-Up Call

For Oklahoma State, the loss raises questions about its offensive consistency heading into a challenging stretch of non-conference play. The Cowgirls had dominated their first three opponents but struggled against a Tulsa team that returned four starters from last season.

Despite holding advantages in rebounds and turnovers, Oklahoma State couldn't overcome its poor shooting. The loss also ended the Cowgirls' unbeaten start and gave Tulsa its first victory over Oklahoma State since 2020.

With more demanding opponents still ahead, Thursday's result provides an early reminder that Oklahoma State will need more than its interior presence to consistently win against quality competition.