Oklahoma State Cowgirls Fall to Baylor Late in Final Game of 2025

STILLWATER- The Cowgirls could not make one more wish come true to end 2025.

Baylor beat Oklahoma State 77-68 on Wednesday afternoon at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowgirls fell to 12-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play.

“I’ve been a part of a lot of losses but none quite like this” coach Jacie Hoyt said. “This one just felt like we gave the game away.”

The Cowgirls started the third quarter on an 11-2 run to extend its lead from three to 12, but the Bears won the fourth quarter 29-8 which included 18 consecutive points to finish the game on top.

“We were not very disciplined,” Hoyt said. “We had stupid fouls away from the basket and we put ourselves in a tough spot to play with foul trouble with a whole quarter to play.”

Hoyt has praised her team’s depth all season. Wednesday showed depth by necessity because of the injuries to Girardi as well as forward Faith Acker, and because of foul trouble. Wooten and Stailee Heard fouled out and the Cowgirls had three players also finish with four fouls each.

“We cannot put ourselves in that spot,” Hoyt said. “I could point to one foul for each person that was just a bonehead play. We just have to avoid that.”

Oklahoma State is now 8-1 at home through the first half of the season.

“The energy that the crowd gave us was just really special,” Hoyt said. “I always have to shout them out because they definitely give us an edge.”

The Cowgirl defense held a Bears offense that averages 45 percent shooting from the field to its average and forced 13 turnovers.

“We got too comfortable after we got a lead and did not want to be as aggressive,” guard Micah Gray said. “We just have to focus on the details and being connected. We were not as connected today.”

Jadyn Wooten led the Cowgirls with 16 points. She also was a presence on the glass with four rebounds.

“We are different with her on the floor because our pace is different,” Hoyt said. “When she takes her shot I am surprised if she does not make it. That is just the level of confidence I have in her.”

The Cowgirls struggled from three without star freshman shooter Lena Girardi, who missed the game with injury. The Cowgirls went 1-11 from beyond the arc in the first half. The team found slightly more success from deep in the second half, finishing 5-25 overall.

“Lena is still day-to-day, but it would have helped to have her,” Hoyt said. “Teams know that we can shoot, and they are going to keep trying to take the three-point line away from us.”

Oklahoma State instead relied on production inside for the majority of its offensive production, finishing with 40 points in the paint.

“We feel like we can score a bunch of different ways,” Hoyt said. “So being able to drive to the rim and exploit that part of what we do offensively is something this team is smart about.”

With the holiday break now over, Hoyt has her team prepared for the grind of the Big 12 slate.

“This conference is going to test you every game,” Hoyt said. “It does not matter who you play, you have to be able to pick yourself up and find your way.”