Oklahoma State head coach Jacie Hoyt: ‘We want to win a Big 12 championship’

Continuity is hard to come by in women’s college basketball, but Oklahoma State head coach Jacie Hoyt finally feels like she has it. 

They bring back first-team All-Big 12 selection Stailee Heard, Micah Gray, who was the Cowgirls’ second-leading scorer and Jadyn Wooten, who led the team in assists and made the All-Big 12 Freshman Team.

“If you look at that core group that we have returning, that’s something that not a lot of coaches in today’s environment, with the transfer portal, have the luxury of and I’m really proud to say that we finally do,” Hoyt told On3.

Add in 6-3 returning post player Praise Egharevba and a top-10 transfer class nationally and Hoyt believes her program has the depth and pieces to take another step forward. The Cowgirls’ newcomers have already elevated the competition in practice. 

“Talent makes talent better,” Hoyt said. “Because our portal kids are competing at such a high level, it’s raised the level of expectation and success for our returners too.”

One of those transfers, BYU’s Amari Whiting, has made an immediate impression. The 5-10 junior averaged 10.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and two steals per game last season with the Cougars.

“I think she’s going to be one of the best defenders in the country this season,” Hoyt said. “I’ve just been blown away with her ability to guard on the ball and be a problem for people.”

UCF transfer Achol Akot is another addition who has stood out early. 

“She’s really gaining confidence and coming into her own,” Hoyt said. “I think she’s going to be a great fit for our system.”

Of the returners, sophomore guard Wooten has taken a major leap from her freshman campaign. She averaged 6.5 points per game and 3.5 assists per game coming off the bench last year. 

“She’s really grown up and matured…,” Hoyt said. “I think she’s one of the best passers in the country – kind of a walking highlight reel. But defensively, Amari has really pushed her and that’s elevated her to a new level.”

The biggest under-the-radar addition, though, might be South Dakota State transfer Haleigh Timmer. 

“She’s a stud,” Hoyt said. “She is no doubt going to play a huge role in everything that we’re doing this season. She’s just a winner…She was one of the best three-point shooters, percentage-wise, in the country last year, and of course, we love to shoot here. I think she’s going to have a really instrumental role.”

Their style won’t change this season. If anything, Hoyt believes the Cowgirls will play faster. 

“We’ve always wanted to play fast, and now we can play faster because of our depth that we have defensively,” she said. “I think we can get after people more as well. The depth is such a nice luxury, and it’s going to allow us to be even faster and more aggressive.”

After reaching the NCAA Tournament last year, Hoyt isn’t shying away from raising the expectations going forward. 

“We want to win a Big 12 championship – that’s the goal,” she said. “That’s the goal for everyone here. We were very close last season. With the returners we have plus the portal kids, I think we’ve got a really good chance at doing that… Last year we went from being a team nobody talked about to a top-25 team. Now we’re a top-25 team trying to be a top-10 team.”