Oklahoma State women's basketball beats Texas for first Big 12 win under coach Jacie Hoyt

Oklahoma State holds off Texas for first conference win under coach Jacie Hoyt

Naomie Alnatas scored a team-high 20 points and Oklahoma State held off Texas for an 86-82 win Saturday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater. It is the first Big 12 win for the Cowgirls under first-year women's basketball coach Jacie Hoyt.

Lior Garzon scored 17 points and Claire Chastain added 12 for OSU (11-4, 1-2).

Deyona Gaston led the Longhorns (11-5, 1-2) with 22 points.

Up next for the Cowgirls is a trip to Waco, Texas, to face No. 23 Baylor at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

More:Meet Bills trainer Denny Kellington, the Oklahoma native who helped save Damar Hamlin

Damar Hamlin, still critical, continues recovery, tweets thanks

Doctors described Damar Hamlin’s neurological function as “excellent” Saturday, as the Buffalo Bills safety continued making progress in his recovery after having to be resuscitated on the field in a game at Cincinnati on Monday.

In providing their daily update on Hamlin, the Bills said the player continues to breathe on his own but remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin took a major step forward in his recovery on Friday when he was taken off a ventilator and showed an ability to speak.

There was a tweet on the 24-year-old's verified Twitter account Saturday evening saying that any love put into the world comes back three times as much and thanking all who have “reached out and prayed." It also said that the response to his injury will make Hamlin stronger. The tweet was followed by a heart-shaped emoji and “3.”

The tweet read: “Putting love into the world comes back 3xs as much… thankful for everyone who has reached out and prayed. This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!”

More:NBA All-Star voting: Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander ranks fourth among West guards

Thunder complete series sweep of Beal-less Wizards

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 30 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder completed a regular-season sweep of the Washington Wizards with a 127-110 win on Friday night.

Josh Giddey added 20 points, nine assists and five rebounds for Oklahoma City, which shot 51% from the field, including 45.9% (17 of 37) from 3-point range. The Thunder seized control with a dominant first quarter – outscoring the Wizards 35-17 – and nine Oklahoma City players made at least one 3-pointer.

“We were good tonight … from start to finish,” Gilgeous-Alexander said. “They’re a good basketball team. They’d won four of their last six (games). We were good on both ends of the floor for a long period of time tonight.”

Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points, Daniel Gafford had 15 points and nine rebounds and Kristaps Porzingis added 14 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wizards, who were playing without their top scorer, Bradley Beal. Beal was diagnosed Thursday with a low-grade left hamstring strain and won’t be re-evaluated for at least a week.

Oklahoma City needed a last-second basket from Gilgeous-Alexander to win 121-120 at Washington on Nov. 16, but the Thunder mostly cruised in the rematch, leading by as many as 27 points. Oklahoma City committed only six turnovers while the Wizards had 20.

Dodgers cut pitcher Trevor Bauer after suspension reduced

The Los Angeles Dodgers are cutting ties with pitcher Trevor Bauer, whose unprecedented 324-game suspension over sexual misconduct allegations was reduced two weeks ago, allowing him to resume his career with the start of the new season.

A person familiar with the situation said Friday the 31-year-old right-hander was designated for assignment, which means the Dodgers have seven days to pull off an unlikely trade or just release him. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the roster move.

If the 2020 NL Cy Young Award winner is released, Los Angeles would remain responsible for the more than $22.5 million remaining on Bauer's contract.

Extra points

COLLEGE BASKETBALL: A suburban Chicago college postponed two men’s basketball games after five players went to a hospital following a rigorous workout. Concordia University Chicago also temporarily removed coach Steve Kollar. Athletic director Pete Gnan sent a letter to parents saying that the team was put through an intense "collegiate-level circuit training” on Dec. 31. Gnan says he's investigating whether the difficult workout was in response to players missing curfew on a trip to California to play two games. The last player was released from a hospital Saturday. The Cougars postponed games Saturday and last Tuesday.

—Staff and wire reports

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State women's basketball beats Texas for first Big 12 win