FORT WORTH, Texas (Interstat) — In a pivotal early-January clash in the Big 12 Conference, the Texas Christian Lady Frogs leaned on their efficient offense and a dominant fourth-quarter run to hold off a persistent challenge from the Oklahoma State Cowgirls, securing a 69-61 victory Wednesday night at Dickies Arena.

The game, played before a crowd of 2,827, pitted two of the conference’s top teams in a defensive struggle that saw the Lady Frogs improve to 15-1 overall, while Oklahoma State fell to 13-4.

The contest was defined by a stark contrast in shooting efficiency. Texas Christian connected on 52% of its field goal attempts, including a sharp 9 of 18 from three-point range. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, labored offensively, shooting 40% from the floor and a frigid 4 of 22 from beyond the arc. That disparity proved decisive in a game where possessions were nearly even.

Oklahoma State’s Stailee Heard of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and Jadyn Wooten of Overland Park, Kansas, kept the Cowgirls within striking distance throughout with prolific scoring efforts. Heard finished with a team-high 23 points, while Wooten poured in 25. Their combined 48 points, however, were not enough to overcome the Lady Frogs’ balanced and precise attack.

Texas Christian was orchestrated by guard Olivia Miles of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, who delivered a complete performance with 20 points and eight assists, consistently breaking down the Oklahoma State defense. Her backcourt partner, Donovyn Hunter of Medford, Oregon, added seven points and five assists. The Lady Frogs’ interior was anchored by Clara Silva of Faro, Portugal, whose presence was felt on both ends. The 6-foot-7 center scored 12 points, grabbed key rebounds, and recorded three blocks, altering numerous Oklahoma State attempts in the paint.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded late in the fourth quarter. Leading just 59-57 with under six minutes to play, Texas Christian unleashed a decisive 8-0 run that effectively sealed the outcome. The surge was fueled by their inside-out execution. Silva started it with a layup off an assist from Hunter. After an Oklahoma State miss, Maddie Scherr of Florence, Kentucky, drained a three-pointer, again from a Hunter assist. Silva then capped the run with another layup, pushing the Lady Frogs’ lead to 67-57 with 3:48 remaining.

Oklahoma State, which had battled to stay close despite its shooting woes, could not muster a response to that final push. The Cowgirls managed only four points in the final four minutes as Texas Christian controlled the tempo and secured crucial defensive stops.

The first half set the tone for a tight battle. Texas Christian led 19-16 after a first quarter that saw both teams trade early blows, including three-pointers from Heard and Miles. The Lady Frogs maintained a slim 33-28 advantage at halftime, thanks in part to Taylor Bigby of Las Vegas, Nevada, who came off the bench to hit two first-half threes and score nine points.

Oklahoma State showed resilience in the third quarter, matching Texas Christian basket for basket and trailing by just five, 47-42, heading into the final period. But the Lady Frogs’ superior shot-making and a 22-point fourth-quarter outburst, compared to Oklahoma State’s 17, provided the necessary separation.

Beyond the scoring, Texas Christian won the rebounding battle decisively and committed only 11 turnovers, while forcing 16 from Oklahoma State. The Cowgirls’ effort on the offensive glass, where they grabbed 10 rebounds, kept them in the game but could not compensate for the overall shooting gap.

The victory solidifies Texas Christian’s strong start to conference play, while Oklahoma State will look to regroup after a hard-fought road loss against one of the league’s elite. Both teams continue their Big 12 schedules on Sunday, with Texas Christian hosting Arizona State and Oklahoma State returning home to face Colorado.