Oklahoma State is back in the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2024, but the Cowgirls drew a very tough first-round matchup against South Dakota State, the Summit League champions who only earned a No. 10 seed despite being ranked No. 24 in the most recent AP Top 25.
This was a bounce-back season for the Cowgirls. After going just 14-16 last year, Oklahoma State won 25 games this season, the most since the 2013-14 team that made the team's most recent Sweet Sixteen run. Now, it has a chance to go after another Sweet Sixteen berth, but it will be a difficult task. Even if the Cowgirls get past the Jackrabbits, the powerhouse that is UConn awaits.
How to watch South Dakota St vs Oklahoma St
- Date: Saturday, March 22
- Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
- Venue: Gampel Pavilion
- How to Watch (TV): ESPN2
- Streaming: Fubo
- South Dakota State record: 29-3
- Oklahoma State record: 25-6
South Dakota St vs Oklahoma St odds, spread and total
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook
Moneyline
- South Dakota State +194
- Oklahoma State -1100
Spread
- South Dakota State +6.5 (-138)
- Oklahoma State -6.5 (+112)
Total
- 139.5 (over -110/under -110)
South Dakota State injury report
- Katie Vasecka, G: Questionable (ankle)
Oklahoma State injury report
- None
South Dakota St and Oklahoma St series history
- Oklahoma State all-time record vs. South Dakota State: 0-1
South Dakota St vs Oklahoma St prediction
After an undefeated run through the Summit League, South Dakota State heads into the NCAA Tournament with a lot of momentum, but also plenty of questions about how they'll do against stronger competition.
The Jackrabbits recorded non-conference wins over Creighton and Oregon, but their most recent contest against a power conference foe was a road meeting with Texas in December, which saw the Jackrabbits fall apart, losing 103-57.
Now look: Oklahoma State's no Texas, but this is still a very good Cowgirls team, ranking 20th in the nation in net rating and excelling on both ends of the floor. We've seen them shut down some talented basketball teams this season like when the Cowgiels beat Kansas State by 30 points last month and when the team handed TCU one of just two Big 12 losses.
One major key for the Cowgirls in this game will be getting big-time production from Stailee Heard in her NCAA Tournament debut. Heard led the team in scoring this season at 16.7 points per game and shot 40.9% from 3-point range and had two huge nights during the Big 12 Tournament, including scoring 34 points in a quartefinal win over Texas Tech.
Offense is a strength for both of these teams, with South Dakota State averaging 76.1 points per game against Division I opponents and Oklahoma State sitting right ahead at 76.7 per game, but that scoring comes in very different forms. The Cowgirls are more likely to push the pace while the Jackrabbits play a more methodical basketball, ranking 230th in pace but still sitting 30th in points per game because of efficiency. The winner of this game will be the team that's able to dictate the pace and play the game they want to play.