Big 12 Women’s Basketball Third Round Highlights and Key Takeaways
The Big 12 Conference women’s basketball season has been a wild ride as the third round of league play wrapped up this weekend. Several undefeated teams entered the fray, but only one made it through untouched.
The weekend games brought dramatic finishes and some seriously clutch performances. Strategic moves on the court kept fans and analysts talking.
This article digs into the weekend’s biggest moments, spotlighting the plays and players that could shape the rest of the season.
The Baylor-Iowa State Showdown: A Game for the Ages
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Baylor and Iowa State faced off in the weekend’s most anticipated matchup. The game was intense, and both teams showed flashes of tactical brilliance.
Taliah Scott became Baylor’s hero, nailing the game-winner with just 2.8 seconds left. She didn’t score a field goal in the first half, but still finished with 21 points—pretty impressive, honestly.
Key Performances
Darianna Littlepage-Buggs played a huge role in Baylor’s win, putting up 13 points and grabbing 20 rebounds. Her defense in the final minutes forced turnovers that made all the difference.
On the Iowa State side, Jada Williams set a career high with 28 points and hit six shots from deep. Audi Crooks dominated the first half with 26 points and 10 rebounds, but Baylor’s defense clamped down on her after halftime.
Strategic Adjustments
Baylor’s coaching staff, led by Nicki Collen, switched up their defense in the second half. At first, Crooks got easy looks with one-on-one coverage, but then Baylor started doubling her and sagging off Williams.
This move worked out, since Williams, who usually isn’t a big threat from long range, couldn’t make Baylor pay. Sometimes you just have to trust your gut as a coach.
Upsets in Utah: TCU and Arizona State Fall
Two of the Big 12’s unbeaten teams, TCU and Arizona State, took their first losses of the season this weekend. TCU lost to Utah in overtime, and Arizona State fell to BYU.
It’s tough to stay perfect, especially on the road. These games proved that.
TCU vs. Utah
Olivia Miles led TCU with 31 points, and Marta Suarez chipped in 23. But Utah’s Lani White exploded for 25 points and helped the Utes build a 13-point lead in overtime.
TCU’s defense just couldn’t slow down Utah’s shooters, who knocked down 13 threes. That’s a tough hill to climb.
BYU vs. Arizona State
BYU pulled off a win over Arizona State, even with a whopping 26 turnovers. Their hot shooting from beyond the arc and a big second half made the difference.
BYU hit 10 threes and outscored Arizona State 43-28 after halftime. Even with all those mistakes, they managed to pull it off.
Texas Tech’s Remarkable Run
Texas Tech keeps rolling, now sitting at 16-0 after a blowout win over Arizona. People are starting to compare this run to the legendary 1993 national title team with Krista Gerlich and Sheryl Swoopes.
Head coach Gerlich leads this group, and they’re starting to look like a real threat for the NCAA Tournament. There’s a buzz around this squad that’s hard to ignore.
Historical Context
Back in 1993, Texas Tech lost their opener but still won the national championship. This year’s team could follow that path, especially with 7-foot-1 recruit Stephanie Okechukwu about to join the lineup.
The upcoming road trip to undefeated West Virginia will be a serious test. We’ll see what they’re really made of.
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Upcoming Challenges
Texas Tech’s next stretch of games matters a lot for their postseason hopes. The showdown with West Virginia, another undefeated team, is circled on everyone’s calendar.
This will be their biggest challenge since facing Baylor in December. If they can get through this, the Lady Raiders could be a real force in March.
Implications for the NCAA Tournament
This weekend’s results could shake up NCAA Tournament seeding. Arizona State and TCU still look like safe bets, but dropping games like these could hurt their spots.
Meanwhile, big wins for Utah and BYU give their resumes a nice boost. Every game counts now.
Seeding Considerations
Baylor and Texas Tech need to keep winning and stacking up quality victories to lock in good seeds. Performing under pressure and making smart adjustments—like Baylor did against Iowa State—will be huge come tournament time.
Road to March Madness
As the season rolls on, undefeated and top-ranked teams start to feel the pressure. The target on their backs just keeps getting bigger.
Conference play brings its own set of headaches, especially when you’re on the road. Teams with NCAA Tournament dreams really need to find ways to handle these challenges.
How they perform and adjust in these high-stakes games matters. Every tough matchup gives them a shot at gaining real experience—and maybe a little extra confidence—heading into March Madness.
If you want a deeper dive into the weekend’s action and more takes, check out the full article on Heartland College Sports.