Oklahoma State Cowgirls face Kansas State in Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals

Fourth-seeded OSU takes on 12th-seeded K-State in Friday morning matchup at T-Mobile Center

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The fourth-seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls women's basketball team will face the 12th-seeded Kansas State Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Friday morning. OSU earned a double-bye to the quarterfinals after finishing fourth in the regular season conference standings, while K-State advanced with wins in the opening rounds. The Cowgirls look to avenge a 70-61 loss to the Wildcats earlier this season.

Why it matters

This matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the Cowgirls having won four of their last five games while the Wildcats pulled off a pair of upsets to reach the quarterfinals. A win for OSU would keep them on track for a strong postseason run, while a K-State victory would be a major upset and boost their NCAA Tournament hopes.

The details

Oklahoma State (23-8, 12-6 Big 12) is led by four All-Big 12 selections, though head coach Jacie Hoyt felt her team deserved more recognition. Kansas State (18-16, 8-10) advanced to the quarterfinals with wins over Cincinnati and Texas Tech. The Cowgirls lost to the Wildcats 70-61 in their only regular season meeting.

  • The game tips off at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2026 at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
  • OSU and K-State have met 82 times previously, with the Wildcats holding a 44-38 advantage in the series.

The players

Jacie Hoyt

In her fourth season as the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, Hoyt previously served as an assistant at Kansas State.

Stailee Heard

The Cowgirls' leading scorer and a second-team All-Big 12 selection.

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What they’re saying

“There's no doubt about that. I've been waiting all year long and knowing that things take time, but all throughout the season, just knowing that when this team is firing on all cylinders, we are really freakin' good.”

— Jacie Hoyt, Oklahoma State Head Coach (The Oklahoman)

“I probably get more caught up in it than (the players) do, because I have a way of taking things personal for the people that I love and care about. I think we play best when we have a chip on our shoulder, so shoutout to the people who gave us one.”

— Jacie Hoyt, Oklahoma State Head Coach (The Oklahoman)

What’s next

The winner of the Oklahoma State-Kansas State game will advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on Saturday.

The takeaway

This quarterfinal matchup features two teams heading in opposite directions, with the fourth-seeded Cowgirls looking to build momentum for the postseason while the 12th-seeded Wildcats are hoping to pull off another upset. Oklahoma State's strong defense and balanced scoring attack should give them the edge in this neutral-site clash.