Cougars return home to face No. 20 Cowgirls in Saturday matinee

PROVO, Utah — The Cougars look to return to the win column as the No. 20 Oklahoma State Cowgirls visit Provo on Saturday, Feb. 15 for the first matchup at the Marriott Center since 1990. 

Matchup Breakdown
BYU and Oklahoma State last met on Jan. 17, 2024, when the Cowgirls handed the Cougars an 82-50 defeat at Gallagher-Iba Arena in their first matchup as Big 12 foes. The last game in the series played at the Marriott Center came on Dec. 29, 1990, as BYU took down OSU 82-75. 

All-Time: 1-3

At BYU: 1-0

Whiting vs. Oklahoma State: 0-1

BYU Cougars  ||  12-12, 3-10  ||  Big 12 Conference

WHAT'S AT STAKE  ||  With a win, BYU would notch its first ranked win of the season and second of the Whiting era. The Cougars knocked off No. 18 Baylor 78-66 for the first ranked win of her career on Feb. 7, 2024.

REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING  ||  Delaney Gibb was named the Big 12 Freshman of the Week for the seventh time on Monday, tying Baylor’s Brittany Griner for third-most in conference history. The freshman has scored more than 14 points in 20 of 24 games this year including eight games with 20 or more. Gibb leads BYU in scoring at 17.0 points per game on 45.8 percent shooting and 39.4 percent from deep. The Canada native averages 5.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.5 steals.

WHITING'S CONSISTENT CONTRIBUTIONS  ||  Despite a slight downtick in scoring this season, Amari Whiting has done what she does best — defend. The sophomore guard is the second-leading rebounder for the Cougars at 5.6 rebounds per game. Whiting also leads BYU in steals per game with 1.92 takeaways which is good for 10th in the conference. On the offensive side, she leads the Cougs in assists per game with 4.0 dimes and an assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.52, good for 12th in the Big 12.

DEFENSE IS ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS  ||  Coach Whiting calls defense the silver bullet to her team’s success. In BYU’s 12 wins, the Cougars have held opponents to 61.0 points and 35.9 percent from the field. In losses, opponents have shot 42.8 percent from the floor, 36.6 percent from deep and scored 73.7 points. BYU has only allowed 70 or more points eight times this season, but all have come in Big 12 play, seven in losses. The one win when allowing 70 or more points came against Houston in Provo.

VALUING THE BASKETBALL  ||  Ball security is crucial for BYU. In Big 12 play, the Cougars have committed 18.2 turnovers and opponents have scored 18.9 points off giveaways per game. In wins this season, BYU only coughs it up 14.1 times and surrenders 12.0 points off turnovers. In losses, BYU averages 19.1 giveaways and 19.3 points given up.

FINISHING POSSESSIONS  ||  Crashing the defensive glass has been a point of emphasis for Whiting’s squad. BYU has given up 12.3 offensive boards and 13.7 second-chance points in Big 12 games. In its three conference wins over Houston, ASU and UCF, BYU only surrendered 10.5 O-boards and 10.5 second-chance points.

BYU conceded 16 offensive boards in its last outing against TCU and surrendered 11 second-chance points. The Cougars are 1-6 when being outrebounded this season and 5-8 when losing the battle of second-chance points. Opponents have outscored BYU in second-chance points in 11 of 13 conference games. 

SECOND-QUARTER BLUES  ||  Since the beginning of conference play, the Cougars have struggled mightily in the second quarter. BYU has lost the second quarter in 8-of-13 Big 12 games by an average of 3.4 points, being outscored 19.2-15.8. The Cougs are 0-8 when they lose the second quarter in Big 12 play.

Head Coach – Amber Whiting

• Alma Mater: BYU, 2001
• Division I Career Record: 44-46  ||  3rd Season
• Record at BYU: 44-46  ||  3rd Season

Oklahoma State Cowgirls  ||  20-4, 10-3  ||  Big 12 Conference

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT STAILEE  ||  Stailee Heard is the focal point of the offensive attack for the Cowgirls as she leads OSU in points per game at 16.8, good for 10th-most in the conference. Heard also leads Oklahoma State in rebounds with 8.1 and steals with 1.9 per contest.

Heard has been even more prolific away from Gallagher-Iba Arena as she scores a team-leading 19.2 points on 46 percent shooting on the road this season.

SIX SHOOTER IS LOCKED AND LOADED  ||  Along with Heard, the Cowgirls have a plethora of capable scorers as six other players average at least 6.9 points per game, all who shoot over 40 percent from the field – Micah Gray (14.1, .418), Anna Gret Asi (11.7, .427), Tenin Magassa (7.9, .612), Jadyn Wooten (7.5, .464), Macey Huard (7.3, .419) and Alexia Smith (6.9, .422)

NOT IN MAGASSA'S HOUSE  ||  Tenin Magassa leads the Cowgirls in blocks on the season with 52 total and 2.2 blocks per contest. She ranks 19th nationally in total blocks and 18th in blocks per contest and third in both categories among Big 12 conference players. The fifth-year player from France also scores 7.9 points per game on a team-high 61.2 percent from the floor, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists.

ROAD WRANGLERS  ||  Oklahoma State has only played six true road games, all coming in Big 12 play, and is 4-2 in such contests. The Cowgirls have taken down Baylor, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF in their four road victories. 

Head Coach – Jacie Hoyt

• Alma Mater: Wichita State, 2009
• Career Record: 136-97  ||  8th Season
• Record at Baylor: 55-32  ||  3rd Season