BourbonPoke
01-17-2008, 08:27 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=3199279 (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncw/columns/story?columnist=voepel_mechelle&id=3199279)
Cowgirls reaching new heights in Big 12 as 2008 unfolds
The coach, Kurt Budke, took the long, dues-paying road to the Big 12 -- and went winless in league play his first season. The star point guard, Andrea Riley, committed to Oklahoma State even though the Cowgirls hadn't made the NCAA Tournament in a decade.
So it would be hard to overstate their joy after what was -- all factors considered -- the most monumental game in program history.
Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., the Cowgirls ended a 17-game losing streak to rival Oklahoma in the matchup that's called "Bedlam." Gallagher-Iba Arena was packed, the crowd of 13,611 being the largest ever to watch a women's hoops game in the state of Oklahoma.
Riley had 45 points, four rebounds, three steals, two assists -- and no turnovers. In short, she put on an epic performance on the best possible night to sell the program to fans. OSU won 82-63. The students rushed out, someone hoisted Riley, and they gave her a triumphant ride around the court.
No woman who had played basketball for Oklahoma State had ever experienced anything like this. Their best daydreams hadn't even been that good.
"The atmosphere was really fun," Riley said. "Wow, 13,000 people! I never thought I'd see that."
Who did? Well, actually those of us who closely follow the Big 12 did envision that the women's version of Bedlam could fill Gallagher-Iba one day.
Part of it was seeing, over the years, how the right mix of factors had led to breakthrough crowds at other schools in the Big 12, which has led the nation's conferences in attendance for the past eight seasons...
(story continued at link above)
Cowgirls reaching new heights in Big 12 as 2008 unfolds
The coach, Kurt Budke, took the long, dues-paying road to the Big 12 -- and went winless in league play his first season. The star point guard, Andrea Riley, committed to Oklahoma State even though the Cowgirls hadn't made the NCAA Tournament in a decade.
So it would be hard to overstate their joy after what was -- all factors considered -- the most monumental game in program history.
Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., the Cowgirls ended a 17-game losing streak to rival Oklahoma in the matchup that's called "Bedlam." Gallagher-Iba Arena was packed, the crowd of 13,611 being the largest ever to watch a women's hoops game in the state of Oklahoma.
Riley had 45 points, four rebounds, three steals, two assists -- and no turnovers. In short, she put on an epic performance on the best possible night to sell the program to fans. OSU won 82-63. The students rushed out, someone hoisted Riley, and they gave her a triumphant ride around the court.
No woman who had played basketball for Oklahoma State had ever experienced anything like this. Their best daydreams hadn't even been that good.
"The atmosphere was really fun," Riley said. "Wow, 13,000 people! I never thought I'd see that."
Who did? Well, actually those of us who closely follow the Big 12 did envision that the women's version of Bedlam could fill Gallagher-Iba one day.
Part of it was seeing, over the years, how the right mix of factors had led to breakthrough crowds at other schools in the Big 12, which has led the nation's conferences in attendance for the past eight seasons...
(story continued at link above)