Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament Day 2 Predictions and Highlights
The Big 12 women’s basketball tournament is heating up in Kansas City, Mo. The second round of games promises thrilling matchups and maybe even a few upsets.
We’ve got four second-round games lined up. Teams are fighting for more than just a spot in the NCAA Tournament—they want conference glory too.
The higher seeds from the first round all advanced, so things have been pretty predictable so far. But Thursday’s games? Honestly, we could see some surprises if lower-seeded teams pull something special.
Let’s dig into what’s coming up and what fans might see in each matchup.
Kansas State vs. Texas Tech
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Kansas State (16-16) just set a new Big 12 Tournament record with 17 made 3-pointers in their win over Cincinnati. Jordan Speiser and Taryn Sides each dropped 20 points, and the Wildcats forced 20 turnovers, turning those into 18 points.
That kind of performance suggests Kansas State is ready for their clash with Texas Tech.
Texas Tech’s Road to Victory
Texas Tech (25-6), led by Big 12 Coach of the Year Krista Gerlich, is back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2013. Bailey Maupin (15.3 ppg) and Snudda Collins (14.8 ppg) headline the Lady Raiders, who want their first Big 12 Tournament title since 1999.
They’ve had a strong regular season and look determined to keep that momentum going.
Prediction: Texas Tech 71, Kansas State 68
BYU vs. Utah
BYU (21-11) managed to beat Houston despite 22 turnovers, thanks to a much sharper second half. Four players scored in double figures, led by Olivia Hamlin’s 16 points.
The Cougars shot almost 50% and had a +10 rebounding margin, which made a difference. Still, they’ll need to take better care of the ball if they want to beat Utah.
Utah’s Battle for NCAA Tournament Spot
Utah (19-11) is also fighting for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid. The Utes, currently among the First Four Out, have already beaten BYU twice this season by double digits.
Lani White (15.7 ppg) and Maty Wilke (10.6 ppg) lead Utah, who’ll try to keep that streak alive and grab a crucial win.
Prediction: Utah 74, BYU 69
Arizona State vs. Iowa State
Arizona State (23-9) needs to show up big in Kansas City to avoid missing the NCAA Tournament. Their first win over Arizona wasn’t easy—Heloisa Carrera scored 14 points, but now Gabby Elliott and McKinna Brackens have to step up against a tough Iowa State team.
Iowa State’s Key Players
Iowa State (22-8) isn’t an easy matchup, especially with center Audi Crooks in the paint. Crooks averaged 25.6 ppg and 7.8 rpg during the season, making her a real problem for defenses.
Jada Williams (15.5 ppg, 7.7 apg) and Addy Brown (12.2 ppg, 8.7 rpg) round out a balanced Iowa State squad that could go deep in the tournament.
Prediction: Iowa State 79, Arizona State 67
Kansas vs. Colorado
Kansas (19-12) struggled against UCF, shooting just 36% from the field. Even so, they pulled out the win after a better second half.
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For the matchup with Colorado, Jaliya Davis and S’Mya Nichols need to step up if Kansas wants a real shot.
Colorado’s Tournament Prospects
Colorado (20-10) sits on the NCAA Tournament bubble, currently listed among the Last Four In. A loss could really hurt their chances, so this game matters—maybe more than any other right now.
Jade Masogayo (11.7 ppg) and bench standout Desiree Wooten (13.1 ppg) lead Colorado, who’ll be desperate for a win to boost their tournament résumé.
Prediction: Colorado 71, Kansas 70
Complete Tournament Schedule
All Thursday games stream live on ESPN+. Here’s the full schedule for the Big 12 women’s basketball tournament:
- Game 1: No. 12 Kansas State 91, No. 13 Cincinnati 66
- Game 2: No. 9 BYU 76, No. 16 Houston 66
- Game 3: No. 10 Arizona State 54, No. 15 Arizona 51
- Game 4: No. 11 Kansas 56, No. 14 UCF 35
- Game 5: No. 12 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Texas Tech, 11 a.m., ESPN+
- Game 6: No. 9 BYU vs. No. 8 Utah, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 7: No. 10 Arizona State vs. No. 7 Iowa State, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 8: Game 4 winner vs. No. 6 Colorado, 8 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. No. 4 Oklahoma State, 11 a.m., ESPN+
- Game 10: Game 6 winner vs. No. 1 TCU, 1:30 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. No. 2 West Virginia, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. No. 3 Baylor, 8 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 13: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 14: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 5:30 p.m., ESPN+
- Game 15: Game 13 winner vs. Game 14 winner, 4 p.m., ESPN (If BYU makes it to Game 15, the title game moves to Monday, March 9, at 3 p.m.)
Looking for more predictions and takes on the Big 12 women’s tournament? You might want to check out the latest over at Heartland College Sports.