In a commanding performance, Stailee Heard led the No. 24 ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls to a comfortable 72-58 victory over UCF in Orlando, Florida, on Saturday. Heard registered a double-double with 23 points and 10 rebounds, in addition to contributing four steals and three assists. The win marked a bounce-back for the Cowgirls, who had recently suffered a narrow 79-76 loss at Houston, marking their first game as a ranked team in nearly five years.

Supporting Heard’s effort, Anna Gret Asi scored 15 points while Tenin Magassa and Micah Gray added 12 and 11 points respectively. This victory also celebrated Jacie Hoyt’s milestone of 50 wins as the head coach of the Cowgirls. For the Knights, Adeang Ring was the standout, scoring 12 points. Unfortunately for UCF, this match marked their eighth consecutive loss, and they struggled with efficiency, hitting only 3 of 18 shots from beyond the arc and committing 23 turnovers.

During the first half, Heard dominated the court, accumulating 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting, helping Oklahoma State establish a solid 41-26 lead by halftime. The Cowgirls showcased their offensive prowess, converting 50% of their overall shots and limiting UCF to just 2 points off turnovers.

The game started with UCF briefly taking the lead at 3-2 after Emely Rodriguez’s three-point play. However, Oklahoma State quickly responded, initiating an 11-0 scoring run following a 3-pointer from Asi, ending the first quarter with a score of 25-14. In the second quarter, Rodriguez managed to narrow the gap to nine points for the Knights before Oklahoma State pulled away with a 12-3 run, further extending their lead by the end of the half.

Although the Cowgirls struggled somewhat in the third quarter, shooting just 6 of 16, they still managed to extend their lead due to four successful three-pointers. By the latter stages, Oklahoma State’s lead peaked at 28 points. However, UCF attempted a late comeback, ending the game on a 16-3 run. Looking ahead, No. 10 TCU is set to face Oklahoma State next Wednesday, while UCF will travel to Iowa State for their next match on Saturday.