KANSAS CITY, Mo. — In a thrilling semifinal clash, No. 17 Baylor emerged victorious over No. 21 Oklahoma State with an 84-74 overtime win in the Big 12 Conference Tournament, advancing them to the championship game. Aaronette Vonleh was the star of the match, scoring a personal best 37 points, while three of her teammates sank crucial 3-pointers in the overtime period.
The semifinal matchup was tightly contested, with neither team gaining more than a nine-point lead during regulation time. Baylor displayed composure and precision, shooting 5-of-8 during the overtime session. Jade Walker contributed at the free-throw line, notably hitting four key free throws in the last 30 seconds to seal the victory.
Baylor’s next challenge is against No. 8 TCU in the championship, a team that recently defeated the Bears 51-48 to secure the league crown. Walker and teammate Sarah Andrews each added 12 and 11 points, respectively, with both players making crucial 3-pointers in the overtime period. Waiata Jennings also added a 3-pointer, showcasing Baylor’s impressive 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc during overtime, though they were 6 of 19 for the entire game.
Oklahoma State’s Stailee Heard delivered an impressive performance, scoring 25 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Teammates Anna Gret Asi and Micah Gray added 14 and 12 points, respectively. The Cowgirls had previously beaten Baylor 84-61 earlier in the season on January 1.
As the lead exchanged hands six times during the fourth quarter, a pair of free throws from Baylor freshman Jadyn Wooten tied the score at 66 with just over a minute remaining. After both teams failed to capitalize on their final regulation attempts, overtime was needed to decide the winner.
In the first half, Vonleh was a dominant force, scoring 19 points, while Herd secured 15 points for Oklahoma State, as Baylor led 32-29 at halftime. The Bears extended their lead to nine points twice in the third quarter before the Cowgirls surged back with an 11-2 run, fueled by three 3-pointers from Gray, bringing the teams level at 45. Eventually, Baylor edged out to a 64-52 lead heading into the final quarter.
