JimBob
03-14-2008, 05:51 AM
OSU advances to Big 12 title game
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
3/14/2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shaunte Smith's two free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining lifted third-seeded Oklahoma State past seven-seed Texas 75-72 and into the Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship final for the first time.
OSU (25-6) will face four-seed Texas A&M in the championship game Satur day at 6 p.m.
The Aggies advanced with a 65-53 win over eight-seed Iowa State.
"People keep doubting these girls and how far we can go," OSU coach Kurt Budke said. "We beat a very good team tonight. Texas is well-coached. No one will want to face them in the NCAA. They don't go away."
Danielle Green and Andrea Riley combined for more than half of OSU's points, each scoring 23 on the night. For Riley, her numbers lifted her to 706 for the season.
Smith, the workhorse in the Cowgirls' defense all season, stepped in front of Texas' Carla Cortijo to draw the foul. Next, she was fouled by Kat Nash on the inbounds pass, sinking both to put OSU up for good.
A 68 percent free-throw shooter on the season, Smith was 8-of-8 at the charity stripe to finish with 12 points. She was the only player to finish with a double-double, adding 16 rebounds.
Asked to assess Smith's play, point guard Andrea Riley said, "Shaunte Smith" as teammate Danielle Green finished the sentence, "My hero."
OSU took the lead for good on a combined effort from Riley and Green.
Riley drove the lane then tried to dish off to Green, who fell flat on her back but still managed to tip the ball to her teammate. Riley completed the play with a 3-pointer.
"That's something we practice," quipped Budke.
Added Green, "That was amazing. Thank God she made it."
The Longhorns (21-12) still had one last shot, but Cortijo's 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit off the front of the rim.
OSU held Texas center Ashley Lindsey scoreless until 2:40 left in the first half. She opened the second half with consecutive baskets to finish with six points, well short of the impact she had in Stillwater on Feb. 20 when she recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in the 71-66 OSU win.
"We just wanted to get her out of her comfort zone," Budke said. "Last time let her get too deep on us. Thought girls did good job of making contact, making her shoot a 10-footer rather than a six footer."
Texas forward Earnesia Williams, a former Sapulpa star, fouled out with 3:50 remaining in the game and exited with 12 points.
"We do a pretty good job of getting people in foul trouble," Budke said. "That's part of the game plan. She's a great player."
Green was teased about coming out to start the game with her shorts on backwards.
"I didn't realize it until my teammates told me," she said with a sheepish grin.
Added Budke, "She's wearing them backwards Saturday. She can change at halftime."
Saturday's opponent, Texas A&M, was the last team to beat Oklahoma State.
Danielle Gant scored 14 second-half points for a team-high 18 to lead the Aggies to a 63-57 win in Stillwater.
Riley had 23 for the Cowgirls.
In the first meeting, Ril ey hit the go-ahead 3-pointer from about 25 feet to lift OSU to a 61-58 victory.
Three of the last four games in the series have come down to the final seconds.
"I doubt there are two teams in America who have played one another tougher than us," Budke said. "I think they are the best team in the conference right now. But we seem to find a way to battle them. We will Saturday."
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
3/14/2008
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Shaunte Smith's two free throws with 8.4 seconds remaining lifted third-seeded Oklahoma State past seven-seed Texas 75-72 and into the Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship final for the first time.
OSU (25-6) will face four-seed Texas A&M in the championship game Satur day at 6 p.m.
The Aggies advanced with a 65-53 win over eight-seed Iowa State.
"People keep doubting these girls and how far we can go," OSU coach Kurt Budke said. "We beat a very good team tonight. Texas is well-coached. No one will want to face them in the NCAA. They don't go away."
Danielle Green and Andrea Riley combined for more than half of OSU's points, each scoring 23 on the night. For Riley, her numbers lifted her to 706 for the season.
Smith, the workhorse in the Cowgirls' defense all season, stepped in front of Texas' Carla Cortijo to draw the foul. Next, she was fouled by Kat Nash on the inbounds pass, sinking both to put OSU up for good.
A 68 percent free-throw shooter on the season, Smith was 8-of-8 at the charity stripe to finish with 12 points. She was the only player to finish with a double-double, adding 16 rebounds.
Asked to assess Smith's play, point guard Andrea Riley said, "Shaunte Smith" as teammate Danielle Green finished the sentence, "My hero."
OSU took the lead for good on a combined effort from Riley and Green.
Riley drove the lane then tried to dish off to Green, who fell flat on her back but still managed to tip the ball to her teammate. Riley completed the play with a 3-pointer.
"That's something we practice," quipped Budke.
Added Green, "That was amazing. Thank God she made it."
The Longhorns (21-12) still had one last shot, but Cortijo's 3-point attempt at the buzzer hit off the front of the rim.
OSU held Texas center Ashley Lindsey scoreless until 2:40 left in the first half. She opened the second half with consecutive baskets to finish with six points, well short of the impact she had in Stillwater on Feb. 20 when she recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds in the 71-66 OSU win.
"We just wanted to get her out of her comfort zone," Budke said. "Last time let her get too deep on us. Thought girls did good job of making contact, making her shoot a 10-footer rather than a six footer."
Texas forward Earnesia Williams, a former Sapulpa star, fouled out with 3:50 remaining in the game and exited with 12 points.
"We do a pretty good job of getting people in foul trouble," Budke said. "That's part of the game plan. She's a great player."
Green was teased about coming out to start the game with her shorts on backwards.
"I didn't realize it until my teammates told me," she said with a sheepish grin.
Added Budke, "She's wearing them backwards Saturday. She can change at halftime."
Saturday's opponent, Texas A&M, was the last team to beat Oklahoma State.
Danielle Gant scored 14 second-half points for a team-high 18 to lead the Aggies to a 63-57 win in Stillwater.
Riley had 23 for the Cowgirls.
In the first meeting, Ril ey hit the go-ahead 3-pointer from about 25 feet to lift OSU to a 61-58 victory.
Three of the last four games in the series have come down to the final seconds.
"I doubt there are two teams in America who have played one another tougher than us," Budke said. "I think they are the best team in the conference right now. But we seem to find a way to battle them. We will Saturday."