JimBob
01-19-2008, 08:15 AM
OSU hopes for payback
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
1/19/2008
Oklahoma State is looking to exorcise another demon Saturday as Big 12 Conference play continues with a 1 p.m. game at Texas A&M. The game will be shown on FSN Cox cable 27.
With their 82-63 win over Oklahoma last week, the Cowgirls snapped a 17-game losing streak to their in-state rivals.
Texas A&M's seven-game stranglehold isn't nearly as long, but it is especially frustrating for the Cowgirls. Last season, both of OSU's losses to the Aggies came in the final 0:00.3 of the game.
Lightning struck twice for OSU, at exactly at the same moment on the clock.
OSU lost the first game in College Station 64-63 followed by a 62-60 setback in Stillwater.
"It's mind-boggling," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said about last year's games. "To win two games in the final three-tenths of a second, is mind-boggling."
Texas A&M, the conference preseason favorite with all five starters back, picked up a Big 12 win Wednesday, 72-68, at Colorado.
Now, the Aggies will try to unseat Oklahoma State, which, along with Baylor, sits atop the standings at 3-0. The Cowgirls' seven-game win streak is also at stake.
The contest will feature two of the top defensive teams in the Big 12.
The Cowgirls are tied with Baylor for scoring defense (allowing 52.7 points per game) and lead the league in steals (12.31), third in field-goal percentage defense (.351) and sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.321).
The Aggies are second in 3-point field-goal percentage (.217) and fourth in steals (10.71).
The two teams are first and second in turnover margin. OSU holds a plus-7.13 margin compared to plus-6.18 for A&M.
"They put pressure on you for 40 minutes," OSU coach Kurt Budke said.
"They use full-court pressure. Their pressure rattles you into mistakes. They make you take shots or passes before you are ready.
"The biggest thing for us is just take care of the basketball. We have to get a shot off every possession."
Against OU, the Cowgirls had just five turnovers, the fewest in the Budke era.
Riley isn't simply the Cowgirls' leading scorer -- she makes the offense click.
"We have to find a way to defend Riley," Blair said. "And we don't have anyone with her speed."
But Riley isn't the only offensive threat.
"If opponents cheat down on Andrea and leave Taylor (Hardeman) open, she can bury the 3-pointer. We also have Danielle Green who can drive the baseline," said Budke.
"This game is huge," said Green. "We have to go in and beat them to stay in the running for the Big 12 Conference."
By LYNN JACOBSEN World Sports Writer
1/19/2008
Oklahoma State is looking to exorcise another demon Saturday as Big 12 Conference play continues with a 1 p.m. game at Texas A&M. The game will be shown on FSN Cox cable 27.
With their 82-63 win over Oklahoma last week, the Cowgirls snapped a 17-game losing streak to their in-state rivals.
Texas A&M's seven-game stranglehold isn't nearly as long, but it is especially frustrating for the Cowgirls. Last season, both of OSU's losses to the Aggies came in the final 0:00.3 of the game.
Lightning struck twice for OSU, at exactly at the same moment on the clock.
OSU lost the first game in College Station 64-63 followed by a 62-60 setback in Stillwater.
"It's mind-boggling," Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said about last year's games. "To win two games in the final three-tenths of a second, is mind-boggling."
Texas A&M, the conference preseason favorite with all five starters back, picked up a Big 12 win Wednesday, 72-68, at Colorado.
Now, the Aggies will try to unseat Oklahoma State, which, along with Baylor, sits atop the standings at 3-0. The Cowgirls' seven-game win streak is also at stake.
The contest will feature two of the top defensive teams in the Big 12.
The Cowgirls are tied with Baylor for scoring defense (allowing 52.7 points per game) and lead the league in steals (12.31), third in field-goal percentage defense (.351) and sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (.321).
The Aggies are second in 3-point field-goal percentage (.217) and fourth in steals (10.71).
The two teams are first and second in turnover margin. OSU holds a plus-7.13 margin compared to plus-6.18 for A&M.
"They put pressure on you for 40 minutes," OSU coach Kurt Budke said.
"They use full-court pressure. Their pressure rattles you into mistakes. They make you take shots or passes before you are ready.
"The biggest thing for us is just take care of the basketball. We have to get a shot off every possession."
Against OU, the Cowgirls had just five turnovers, the fewest in the Budke era.
Riley isn't simply the Cowgirls' leading scorer -- she makes the offense click.
"We have to find a way to defend Riley," Blair said. "And we don't have anyone with her speed."
But Riley isn't the only offensive threat.
"If opponents cheat down on Andrea and leave Taylor (Hardeman) open, she can bury the 3-pointer. We also have Danielle Green who can drive the baseline," said Budke.
"This game is huge," said Green. "We have to go in and beat them to stay in the running for the Big 12 Conference."