Can the Cowgirls Corral the Cougars at Gallagher-Iba Arena?
As the Oklahoma State Cowgirls prepare to host the Houston Cougars at Gallagher-Iba Arena, fans are eager to see if their team can continue its recent performance trends. The Cowgirls have shown a mix of resilience and areas for improvement in their past games, which will be crucial factors in their upcoming clash.
In their last game against Southern Illinois Salukis, the Cowgirls secured a comfortable 76-58 victory. Their offensive efforts were impressive with a 57 percent success rate from two-point range and an exceptional 86 percent from the free-throw line. However, they struggled beyond the arc with only 15 percent efficiency on three-point attempts.
The previous encounter before that saw a high-scoring affair where Oklahoma State triumphed over Utah Tech Trailblazers with an 87-61 scoreline. The team's field goal percentage was strong at 53 percent, and they dominated inside, scoring 44 points in paint while also capitalizing on turnovers by scoring 23 points off them.
However, consistency is key for any successful team. In an earlier game against Oregon Ducks at Burns Arena—a neutral site—the Cowgirls fell short by seven points (63-70). Despite rallying in the second quarter and posting a solid free throw percentage of 72 percent overall, they were outmatched by Oregon's more balanced attack and higher assist-to-turnover ratio.
As we look ahead to facing Houston Cougars on home turf, maintaining strong defensive pressure will be vital for Oklahoma State. They'll need to leverage their rebounding ability—averaging over 40 rebounds per game—and convert those opportunities into scoring while tightening up perimeter defense to limit three-point shots from Houston.
Fans can catch all of this action live on February 17th at Gallagher-Iba Arena or tune in for coverage starting at tip-off time scheduled for local time zone convenience. With both teams looking to assert dominance early in this matchup, it promises to be an exciting contest filled with strategic plays and athletic prowess.