JimBob
03-25-2008, 07:53 AM
Sweet victory: OSU wins thriller
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/25/2008
Dramatic shot secures Sweet Sixteen spot
DES MOINES, Iowa -- When the Oklahoma State and Florida State women's basketball teams clashed on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena, the Cowgirls never led by more than five points. The Seminoles never led by more than four.
The score was tied on 17 occasions. There were 20 lead changes.
There was high drama.
The teams combined for 147 shots from the field, but this NCAA Tournament sec ond-round outcome was determined by one free throw -- Andrea Riley's free throw with seven-tenths of a second remaining in overtime.
It was a free throw that gave the third-seeded Cowgirls a 73-72 victory over 11th-seeded FSU.
And it was a free throw that sent OSU (27-7) to the Sweet Sixteen round of next weekend's New Orleans Regional.
At the New Orleans Arena on Saturday, the Cowgirls are matched with second-seeded LSU. In each of the previous four seasons, LSU has ad vanced to the Final Four.
"There are a lot of teams in this country that have more talent than what we're throwing out there, but, man, we just find a way," Cowgirls coach Kurt Budke said. "Tonight, I thought we did an unbelievable job, when things looked bad, of staying locked in and staying focused.
"Florida State is a very good team. This is an unbelievable win. When you can go from 0-16 (OSU's Big 12 record two years ago) to the Sweet Sixteen, that says enough in itself right there. I'm very proud of this team."
OSU had a five-point lead late in the overtime period, but the Seminoles (19-14) rallied on a pair of Mara Freshour 3-pointers (the latter tying the score at 72-72 with 17.7 seconds remaining).
During the final Cowgirl possession, as Riley dribbled to within 17 feet of the basket and went airborne for a shot, she was fouled by FSU's Shante Williams as the clock went to 0:00. Officials studied video replays and determined that Riley was fouled with seven-tenths of a second remaining.
With the score knotted at 72, Riley missed on her first attempt, but connected on the all-important second one. She then backpedaled and intercepted Freshour's 60-foot inbounds pass as the final horn sounded.
"I've been waiting my whole life for that moment," said Riley, OSU's All-Big 12 sophomore point guard. "I wanted it to be me."
When asked about the foul call that sent Riley to the line, Florida State coach Sue Semrau would only say that "the officials are the authority on the court."
"It was a great game," she said.
Florida State had a 51-50 rebounding edge over the smaller Cowgirls. In an extremely physical game, the Cowgirls committed only 12 turnovers while totaling 12 steals.
"When you don't shoot it so well, you have to take care of the basketball," Budke said. "Only 12 turnovers -- that gave us a chance. And I know we gave up a lot of rebounds, but we matched Florida State on the boards. It was a stalemate."
Riley scored 21 points but had a rough shooting night. She was 8-of-25 overall from the field and 0-of-5 on 3-pointers. As a team, OSU was 4-of-24 on 3-pointers. Among the Cowgirl starters, only senior guard Danielle Green shot the ball well, going 10-of-17 for 23 points.
Green made a huge play that saved Oklahoma State in regulation. With 13.8 seconds left, she dribbled the length of the court and converted a layup that tied the score at 65-65. Williams, who had 19 points for Florida State, launched a 16-foot shot just before time expired, but it missed badly and the teams went to overtime.
Freshour finished with four 3-pointers and 20 points, but guard Tanae Davis-Cain, who averages 15.3 points, managed only eight.
Seminole center Jacinta Moore had a 14-point, 13-rebound performance, but her OSU counterpart, Maria Cordero, was responsible for one of the game's more important shots -- a left-corner 3-pointer that gave OSU a 70-65 lead in overtime.
Cordero fouled out with 1:15 left. Her backup, Megan Byford, collected an offensive rebound and scored OSU's final field goal, making it 72-69 with 26 seconds left. Freshour tied the score with a deep 3-pointer, and the stage was set for Riley.
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
3/25/2008
Dramatic shot secures Sweet Sixteen spot
DES MOINES, Iowa -- When the Oklahoma State and Florida State women's basketball teams clashed on Monday night at Wells Fargo Arena, the Cowgirls never led by more than five points. The Seminoles never led by more than four.
The score was tied on 17 occasions. There were 20 lead changes.
There was high drama.
The teams combined for 147 shots from the field, but this NCAA Tournament sec ond-round outcome was determined by one free throw -- Andrea Riley's free throw with seven-tenths of a second remaining in overtime.
It was a free throw that gave the third-seeded Cowgirls a 73-72 victory over 11th-seeded FSU.
And it was a free throw that sent OSU (27-7) to the Sweet Sixteen round of next weekend's New Orleans Regional.
At the New Orleans Arena on Saturday, the Cowgirls are matched with second-seeded LSU. In each of the previous four seasons, LSU has ad vanced to the Final Four.
"There are a lot of teams in this country that have more talent than what we're throwing out there, but, man, we just find a way," Cowgirls coach Kurt Budke said. "Tonight, I thought we did an unbelievable job, when things looked bad, of staying locked in and staying focused.
"Florida State is a very good team. This is an unbelievable win. When you can go from 0-16 (OSU's Big 12 record two years ago) to the Sweet Sixteen, that says enough in itself right there. I'm very proud of this team."
OSU had a five-point lead late in the overtime period, but the Seminoles (19-14) rallied on a pair of Mara Freshour 3-pointers (the latter tying the score at 72-72 with 17.7 seconds remaining).
During the final Cowgirl possession, as Riley dribbled to within 17 feet of the basket and went airborne for a shot, she was fouled by FSU's Shante Williams as the clock went to 0:00. Officials studied video replays and determined that Riley was fouled with seven-tenths of a second remaining.
With the score knotted at 72, Riley missed on her first attempt, but connected on the all-important second one. She then backpedaled and intercepted Freshour's 60-foot inbounds pass as the final horn sounded.
"I've been waiting my whole life for that moment," said Riley, OSU's All-Big 12 sophomore point guard. "I wanted it to be me."
When asked about the foul call that sent Riley to the line, Florida State coach Sue Semrau would only say that "the officials are the authority on the court."
"It was a great game," she said.
Florida State had a 51-50 rebounding edge over the smaller Cowgirls. In an extremely physical game, the Cowgirls committed only 12 turnovers while totaling 12 steals.
"When you don't shoot it so well, you have to take care of the basketball," Budke said. "Only 12 turnovers -- that gave us a chance. And I know we gave up a lot of rebounds, but we matched Florida State on the boards. It was a stalemate."
Riley scored 21 points but had a rough shooting night. She was 8-of-25 overall from the field and 0-of-5 on 3-pointers. As a team, OSU was 4-of-24 on 3-pointers. Among the Cowgirl starters, only senior guard Danielle Green shot the ball well, going 10-of-17 for 23 points.
Green made a huge play that saved Oklahoma State in regulation. With 13.8 seconds left, she dribbled the length of the court and converted a layup that tied the score at 65-65. Williams, who had 19 points for Florida State, launched a 16-foot shot just before time expired, but it missed badly and the teams went to overtime.
Freshour finished with four 3-pointers and 20 points, but guard Tanae Davis-Cain, who averages 15.3 points, managed only eight.
Seminole center Jacinta Moore had a 14-point, 13-rebound performance, but her OSU counterpart, Maria Cordero, was responsible for one of the game's more important shots -- a left-corner 3-pointer that gave OSU a 70-65 lead in overtime.
Cordero fouled out with 1:15 left. Her backup, Megan Byford, collected an offensive rebound and scored OSU's final field goal, making it 72-69 with 26 seconds left. Freshour tied the score with a deep 3-pointer, and the stage was set for Riley.