Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Portland
Cowgirls Squeak Past Portland, 88-76
December 18, 1999 | Cowgirl Basketball
Dec. 18, 1999
SEATTLE, Wash. - Oklahoma State's Cowgirl basketball team squeaked past the Portland Pilots, 88-76, here Saturday afternoon in the first round of the 14th annual Seattle Times Classic. It took everything the Cowgirls had as all five starters scored in double figures.
The game was a lot closer than the final score indicated as the Pilots pulled to within five points with 1:22 remaining in the game. But, nine free throws in the final 1-1/2 minutes sealed the win for OSU.
Oklahoma State had a chance to put the game away early, going on a 14-0 run to take a 20-6 lead eight minutes into the game. The lead went up and down for a while before the Cowgirls went on a 9-0 run to get up by 17 at 40-23 with 2:58 remaining in the first period.
The Pilots cut the lead to nine with a 10-2 run going into the lockerroom with OSU ahead, 42-33.
Oklahoma State built up a 20-point lead five minutes into the second half as Portland scored just two points over that span. The Cowgirls maintained a double-digit lead until the 7:52 mark, when an offensive board and putback by Sharon Rissmiller, the Pilots leading scorer with 20, cut the lead to nine.
Cowgirl senior Jennifer Crow led all scorers with 21 points, including 15 in the first half. Tari Cummings scored 20 points and pulled down eight boards, and Stillwater-product Shelby Hutchens scored a career-high 14 points. Freshman Chantoya Hawkins added 11 points and dished out nine assists, while Kara Faulk poured in 10 points.
Oklahoma State went to the free-throw line 32 times, and connected on 28, including 20 straight. Portland committed 28 turnovers, compared to just 18 for OSU.
OSU (6-3) will play Washington, a 99-76 winner over Idaho, in the championship game at 5 p.m. CST on Sunday. Portland (4-6) will play Idaho, at 3 p.m. CST.
