STILLWATER- The roar of the cougar was nowhere to be heard on the white maple.
Oklahoma State beat BYU 67-51 on Wednesday evening at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The Cowgirls improved to 17-5 overall and 6-3 in the Big 12 with the win.
“I am really proud of our team and the way that we came out,” coach Jacie Hoyt said. “Tonight was about getting back to ourselves and picking ourselves back up.”
The Cowgirls started the second quarter with a 14-2 run to take the lead after trailing by six at the end of the first. Amari Whiting, a transfer from BYU, capped off the run with one of her three made three-pointers. She finished with a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds in her first game against her former team.
“The game was not ever about BYU,” Whiting said. “It was just an awesome feeling and it really just comes down to my sisterhood with my teammates.”
Oklahoma State won the second quarter 20-3 and held the Cougars to one made basket in the middle frame.
“Defensively the game plan was not was it was supposed to be in the first quarter,” Hoyt said. “We did a really good job of having a backup plan and the team did a good job of adapting to it.”
The Cowgirls were back in form shooting the ball from deep, netting 13 three-pointers. Three Cowgirls finished with multiple makes from beyond the arc.
“The shot that Haleigh Timmer hit was just the dagger that we all needed,” Hoyt said. “I am grateful for people on this team who will just keep shooting.”
Micah Gray led the Cowgirls with 25 points including seven makes from deep. She was one of three Cowgirls to finish in double-figures.
“It is great when you see a teammate get into a groove,” Whiting said. “I think at different points I was just spraying the ball around and saw her in the corner and knew that she would just go get it.”
Oklahoma State’s unselfish play continued to shine. The team had 19 assists on 23 baskets, including 11 assists on 13 makes in the first half.
“It is a coach’s dream to have that many weapons,” Hoyt said. “The weapons do not matter if we are not moving the ball. Sometimes we need to focus on moving a little more because we have so many weapons, but it is a luxury for sure.”
Forward Achol Akot tied a career high with 14 rebounds as part of a 51-39 Cowgirl advantage on the glass.
“The athleticism and motor that she has is just unreal,” Hoyt said. “She allows us to play the way we want to and she was a rebounding machine tonight.”
Defensively the Cowgirls held BYU to 29 percent shooting, well below its season average. Delaney Gibb entered the game as BYU’s leading scorer, averaging just over 17 points per game. She was also held below her season average. She finished with 11 points.
“Delaney is a great player and she is everyone’s focal point,” Hoyt said. “Amari always draws the toughest assignment defensively and she was elite tonight. She handled her assignment perfectly.”
The Cowgirl defense also forced 18 turnovers, which led to 16 points.
“Their team does a great job of moving and sharing the ball and forcing people to get back in transition,” Hoyt said. “Tonight was like playing ourselves so it was a great test for us.”
Hoyt’s team now goes back on the road for its next two games. The win over the Cougars will serve as a needed confidence boost.
“This is the closest team I have ever coached,” Hoyt said. “They bond all the time and it really is all about sisterhood.”
