Three Must-Watch Big 12 Women’s Basketball Games for Week of Feb. 20
Here are the top three Big 12 women’s basketball games for the week of Feb. 20 as the league heads toward the final two weeks of the season.
Note: Oklahoma and Texas have the mid-week games off.
Iowa State at Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m. CT Wednesday, Big 12 Now/ESPN+
So … who had this as a battle for third place in the Big 12 at the start of the season? You? In the corner? Don’t lie. No one did.
But here we are. Both the Cyclones and Cowgirls are tied for third heading into the final two weeks and the winner takes a one-game lead with three games left.
Ashley Joens poured in 27 points for Iowa State against Baylor on Saturday, but Lexi Donarski hit the jumper that forced double overtime in the Cyclones’ win over the Bears. Oklahoma State and head coach Jacie Hoyt weren’t outdone. The Cowgirls needed triple overtime to beat Texas Tech, led by Naomie Alnatas’ 28 points.
Oklahoma State has won five straight. Can Iowa State cool the Cowgirls off?
West Virginia at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. CT Wednesday, Big 12 Now/ESPN+
The Mountaineers have the clear track to claim a seventh bid for the Big 12 in the NCAA Tournament. But it’s not a certainty. Collecting wins is vital for the Mountaineers, led by Madisen Smith, to make their case. WVU was the second team out of ESPN’s Bracketology as of Friday.
Texas Tech has flirted with the bubble a couple of times during Big 12 play. But the Lady Raiders have lost four straight, and with just four league wins, they’re a long shot. Now, the WNIT is well within their grasp. But the NCAA Tournament is probably out of reach.
That doesn’t mean Texas Tech will stand aside for the Big 12’s sake, of course. The first meeting saw WVU win by 10 in Morgantown. The Lady Raiders are going to want some revenge in Lubbock. Watch Bre’Amber Scott. She dumped 30 points on Oklahoma State on Saturday.
Texas at Oklahoma, 1 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
As luck would have it both Texas and Oklahoma have the week off before meeting on Saturday. And it couldn’t be more meaningful to the Big 12 race.
The two teams are tied at the top of the league standings and this game will likely determine who gets the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in Kansas City. More importantly, the winner gets the inside track to breaking Baylor’s streak of 12 straight Big 12 regular-season championships.
Texas will be led by Rori Harmon and DeYona Gaston. Oklahoma will be led by their three super-seniors — Taylor Robertson, Madi Williams, and Ana Llanusa. It should be the best game of the week. Texas won the first meeting in Austin. Oklahoma plays extremely well at home, with just one loss at Lloyd Noble this season.
This Week’s Schedule (all times central)
Wednesday
Iowa State at Oklahoma State, 6:30 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Kansas at Kansas State, 6:30 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Baylor at TCU, 6:30 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
West Virginia at Texas Tech, 7 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Saturday
Texas at Oklahoma, 1 p.m., ESPN+
TCU at Iowa State, 5 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Texas Tech at Baylor, 5 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Kansas State at West Virginia, 5 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Sunday
Oklahoma State at Kansas, 2 p.m., Big 12 Now/ESPN+
Links to Use
Rankings
AP Top 25 | USA Today Coaches | NCAA NET
Team Schedules, Results
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Signing Classes for 2023
Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State | Oklahoma | Oklahoma State | TCU | Texas | Texas Tech | West Virginia
Tournaments
Big 12 Women’s Tournament | NCAA Women’s Tournament
Bracketology
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard
