Can BYU Cougars Outplay Oklahoma State Cowgirls at Gallagher-Iba?
The BYU Cougars are gearing up for a challenging encounter against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls at the historic Gallagher-Iba Arena. As the game day approaches on January 17, fans are eager to see if the Cougars can carry forward their momentum and secure another victory.
In their recent matchup on January 13, the Cougars demonstrated a commendable performance against Cincinnati Bearcats with a solid win of 68-58. The team's statistics were impressive, showcasing their ability to dominate both ends of the court. With an assist-turnover ratio of 1.29 and shooting 48 percent from the field, they proved that they could maintain possession and capitalize on scoring opportunities effectively.
BYU's defense was particularly noteworthy as they racked up six blocks and limited Cincinnati to just 34 percent shooting from the field. Their defensive prowess will be crucial when facing Oklahoma State's offense. Additionally, BYU showed strength in rebounding with a total of 38 rebounds in their last game, which could be pivotal in controlling Oklahoma State's second-chance points.
However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for BYU; turnovers were an area of concern as they gave up possession 14 times against Cincinnati. This is one aspect where they'll need to tighten up because Oklahoma State will undoubtedly look to exploit any such weaknesses.
Looking back further at their January 11 loss against Houston Cougars (69-79), it was clear that turnovers were again a significant issue with BYU turning over the ball an alarming 25 times. Despite this setback, there were positives to take away – notably their free-throw accuracy at an impressive rate of 83 percent and maintaining strong two-point shooting at a rate of 54 percent.
The upcoming game poses both challenges and opportunities for BYU – challenges in managing turnovers better than previous games but also opportunities given their proven ability to score efficiently inside and maintain high assist rates when playing cohesively.
As fans anticipate this exciting clash between two formidable teams, all eyes will be on whether or not BYU can continue its strong offensive execution while shoring up its ball-handling under pressure from Oklahoma State's aggressive defense.
The showdown is set for January 17 at Gallagher-Iba Arena with tip-off scheduled for 5:30 PM local time (7:30 PM ET). Fans won't want to miss this matchup which promises intense competition; those unable to attend can catch all the action live where available broadcasts are provided.