Notes and takeaways from Arizona’s loss to Oklahoma State

By Lori Burkhart

Posted on February 2, 2026

*Arizona guard Sumaya Sugapong drives down the court during the Wildcats’ 88-69 loss to Oklahoma State (Ryder Jerome/ AllSportsTucson.com)*

Arizona showed glimpses and bright spots during their Big 12 matchup with Oklahoma State on Sunday in McKale Center, but the inability to sustain those glimpses and bright spots for a full four quarters have become the Achilles’ heal for the Wildcats this season.

The Wildcats were able to execute the game plan for the first quarter but the strength and physicality of Oklahoma State (18-5, 7-3 Big 12) was too much for Arizona to overcome, ultimately falling to the Cowgirls 88-69.

“I thought we showed glimpses of being able to execute a game plan and play really, really hard within that game plan,” Arizona coach Becky Burke said. “Glimpses are not going to be enough for this year’s team. It’s going to take a perfect storm of us putting together a 40-minute game, which again, we did not do tonight but you know the glimpses are encouraging and the moments where we show that we can play high level basketball. We’ve just got to continue to try to build off of that.

“This was probably the team that was the most physical with us in the Big 12. And we knew that going in. They play extremely hard. They got up in us. They were physical with us. We did not handle it well. This is a big, strong league, and even if we’re not big and strong, we need to act like we’re big and strong.”

Sumayah Sugapong’s elevated level of play

“I just try to take what they give me and staying aggressive,” Sumayah Sugapong said on her team-high 25 points.

“I thought Sumayah just played her absolute butt off tonight; really, really proud of her effort,” Burke said about her junior guard.

Sugapong played a full 40 minutes and didn’t just contribute on the offensive side. She also played a solid game on defense, swarming to the ball and grabbing two steals

“When we got the good stops it was sort of all of us moving and rotating,” Sugapong said

Arizona fan support creates special environment

Rain or shine the fans of Arizona women’s basketball show up for every game. Even though the Wildcats were on a five-game losing streak in Big 12 play, a season-high crowd of 7,802 showed up to support the Wildcats against Oklahoma State.

“Let me be very, very clear. I want to thank every single fan that was in the building today for showing out and showing up for us.” Burke said. “This is the only program in the country where we can be having a building season, and we can be in kind of the valley that we’re in, and still have a record crowd in game number nine or 10 of the Big 12.

“This doesn’t happen. This is a very, very special and unique place, and I want every single person that shows up and buys a ticket to our game to understand and know that we don’t take it lightly. We do not take it for granted. I’m just so appreciative, and I know our players are as well, because, like I said, this is rare and it does not go unnoticed. We need them to keep coming and and supporting, and when we get this thing rolling, I want those people to say that they were here from from the ground level.”

Backed by THE best fans in the country! #BDSU pic.twitter.com/qYw44tjFB9

— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) February 2, 2026

Oklahoma State coach Jacie Hoyt on the support and atmosphere in McKale: “I just want to start out by shouting out the fans here. This was an incredible environment to get to play in today. This is my first time being here, so I’ve heard about it, but to get to be a part of it was just really, really cool. And I think even just looking at this (post game press) room, all of you, you’re doing it right here. Thank you for just showing up for women’s basketball because this is a really special place.”

The @ArizonaWBB fan base is amazing. Arizona down by 25 with 5:49 to go in the game and very few people have left McKale. THIS is what supporting your program looks like. THIS is Arizona. @AllSportsTucson

— Lori Burkhart (@loriburkhart) February 1, 2026

Staying out of foul trouble

Foul trouble has plagued Arizona . The Wildcats (10-11, 1-9) had five players foul out in their match up against Iowa State on January 24 with four available players on the court to end the game.

Sunday the Wildcats were able to end the game without a single player fouling out. Lani Cornfield was the only player with four fouls.

“Anytime Sumaya doesn’t foul out we are going to celebrate that,” joked Burke.

“We did a good job at times being more disciplined not fouling and at times we just got beat off the bounce one on one and didn’t even have the ability to foul. It was just too inconsistent of a game for 40 minutes.”