LAWRENCE, Kan. — In an exciting conclusion to the Big 12 Conference regular season, Tenin Magassa equaled her career best with 20 points and pulled down 16 rebounds, while Micah Gray delivered crucial three-pointers, scoring 17 points to lead No. 21 Oklahoma State to a 57-51 victory over Kansas on Sunday. This win secured the Cowgirls a third-place finish.
Magassa showcased her defensive prowess by blocking six shots, contributing significantly to Oklahoma State’s (24-5, 14-4) impressive run. The Cowgirls have set a new school record for conference victories and extended their winning streak to four games. With their strong performance, Oklahoma State will skip to the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament as a top-4 team. This season’s 24 victories mark their highest since the 2013-14 season when they achieved 25 wins.
Gray ended the first half with a buzzer-beating three-pointer, handing Oklahoma State a slim 22-19 lead. She commenced the third quarter with yet another three-pointer, increasing the team’s advantage to two possessions. The Cowgirls stretched their lead to eight points, but Kansas fought back to level the game twice, the last tie occurring at 51-all following a layup by S’Mya Nichols with just over two minutes on the clock. Gray quickly responded with her final three-pointer 40 seconds later, keeping Oklahoma State ahead for good.
S’Mya Nichols led the Jayhawks (16-13, 6-12) with 16 points as they concluded their season in 11th place. All conference teams will vie for the Big 12 title, and positions five through eight earn a first-round bye.
The opening quarter saw Oklahoma State jump ahead 15-7, although Kansas limited them to a mere four points in the second quarter until Gray’s critical three-pointer. The Cowgirls carried a slender 37-34 advantage into the last quarter following a tightly contested 15-all third quarter.
Kansas managed to lead for only 11 seconds throughout the game but ensured the deficit never exceeded 10 points. As the tournament approaches, Kansas is slated to face Texas Tech in their opening match on Wednesday.
