Oklahoma State University Athletics
1997-98 Cowgirl Review
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Basketball
Oklahoma State began the 1997-98 season returning four starters from the previous year and the addition of Devon Magness, the tallest player to ever put on a Cowgirl uniform. What transpired from that start was a team that won 20 games for just the seventh time in the 25 years of the program's existence.
In the beginning, 20 wins seemed like a mirage. Two starters from '97 suffered from injuries and became formidable backups early in the season. Sophomores Jennifer Crow and Sara Jackson emerged as quality starters at the guard positions. Devon Magness met several expectations set by the Cowgirl coaching staff and exceeded even more. As the season progressed, the OSU basketball program became a team opponents would have preferred to avoid.
OSU lost a heart-breaking early-season game to the 25th-ranked LSU Tigers in overtime, 68-66. After back-to-back losses to SMU and New Mexico, both high- caliber programs, the Cowgirls roped together seven consecutive wins to enter Big 12 Conference play with a 7-3 record.
After opening conference play with a 3-0 record, the Cowgirls faced six ranked opponents over the next three weeks. The outcome wasn't exactly what the team had hoped for, dropping five of six. But, the Cowgirls rebounded by winning their next three games and six of the last seven regular-season games.
Oklahoma State entered the Big 12 Conference Tournament as the fifth-seed and faced the No. 12-seed Missouri Tigers. OSU ousted Mizzou behind an all-star performance by Jackson, and set up a rematch of the most lopsided loss of the season for the Cowgirls.
OSU had gone to Nebraska and been demolished in front of a regional television audience. It would not happen again, though, as OSU dismantled the Huskers in the second round of the tournament with an 83-69 win. The victory was viewed by several members of the NCAA Selection Committee, and it was thought that the win clinched the Cowgirls' return to the Big Dance.
The next matchup was a semifinal game vs. the top-seeded Texas Tech Lady Raiders, against which OSU had lost twice by an average of almost 20 points. In what was perhaps the best defensive effort the Lady Raiders had seen all season long, OSU held Tech to just 53 points and exposed the Raiders' weaknesses to the rest of the country. The 53 points was the lowest of the season by TTU. Cheri Edwards was named to the all-tournament team following her outstanding performance.
After an astonishing shun by the NCAA Selection Committee, OSU accepted a bid into the rejuvenated Women's National Invitational Tournament. The Cowgirls played first-round host to the Rice Owls of the Western Athletic Conference. In a game that was thought to be a close one, OSU dominated and took off with a 75-52 victory. The win set up a rematch with conference-foe Baylor in Waco.
OSU and Baylor had split the regular-season pair of games, with each winning at home. Oklahoma State was at a disadvantage, though, with senior Renee Roberts hampered by a concussion she suffered in the first half. Baylor squeaked out a seven-point win and went on to finish second in the WNIT, hosting the championship game with a record crowd vs. Penn State.
Oklahoma State ended the season with a 20-11 record, and had three players named to the Conference's All-Big 12 team. Jennifer Crow, Cheri Edwards and Renee Roberts all earned the accolade. Crow and Edwards were also named to the Academic All-Big 12 squad, along with Kourtney Bower, Sarah Boyd and Nikki Harmon.
1997-98 Postseason Honors
All-Big 12 Jennifer Crow, honorable mention Cheri Edwards, honorable mention Renee Roberts, honorable mentionAcademic All-Big 12 Kourtney Bower, 1st team Jennifer Crow, 1st team Cheri Edwards, 1st team Sarah Boyd, honorable mention Nikki Harmon, honorable mention
Big 12 All-Tournament Team Cheri Edwards
