Oklahoma State University Athletics
1998-99 Cowgirl Preview
June 21, 1999 | Cowgirl Basketball
Oklahoma State opens the 1998-99 season with something missing. The fact that three starters and a quality backup are gone would bring several questions to mind. Those, and many more, will need to be answered early this season if the Cowgirls are to make a run at the Big 12 Championship.
OSU returns just two starters to the lineup after graduation depleted the corps. Renee Roberts and Cheri Edwards, both honorable mention All-Big 12 members last season, are gone, along with three-point specialist Sarah Boyd. Sara Jackson, the Cowgirls' point guard a year ago, is gone after failing academically. However, Coach Dick Halterman and his staff return a nucleus of four seniors for their final season and should be able to manufacturer what it takes to win.
Returning for their fourth and final seasons are Kourtney Bower, Nikki Harmon and Shelly Jackson. Bower was the coach on the court two years ago, and will return to that position as the point guard. Harmon is coming off a knee injury that subdued her for much of the second half of the season last year, and was quite possibly the best player on the team before the injury. Shelly Jackson enters her final year with something to prove after a broken finger forced her to miss much of her junior year.
Also back for her senior year is Megan Gregg, who transferred to OSU her junior year. Gregg had the highest shooting percentage ever by a Cowgirl junior last year, and could earn a spot in the starting lineup at the power forward position.
The junior class this season is a small one. The most prominent member is honorable mention All-Big 12 player Jennifer Crow. Crow led the team last season in several statistical categories, including points, steals, three-pointers and free throws. She is considered one of the premier shooters in the league. Along with Crow, Cynda Brock and Brooke Carter form the class of 2000. Brock came to OSU a year ago as a transfer and showed promise as a backup point/shooting guard. Carter is a transfer from NEO who was a two-year starter for the Lady Norse.
Devon Magness, Reba Johnson and Toya Releford make up the sophomore class this season. Magness started all 31 games her freshman season, and will get better as time moves on. Johnson is probably the most athletic player on the squad, and could see significant playing time. Releford is a player who saw a lot of court time two years ago before a degenerative disk slowed her down last season and she was forced to redshirt. Only time will tell if she's capable of providing the backup needed at the center position.
Including both redshirts and true, this year's class of freshman could be one of the better ones in school history. Coming off redshirt years are Jessica Spinner and Mandy Stuber. Spinner is a three-point specialist who could attack at any time. Stuber is a 6-2 student of the game that can play anywhere on the court. She has the ability to post up in the blocks or pull up and shoot the trey.
Three true freshmen enter their first season as Cowgirls. Jessica Bates is a 6-2 forward/center who has the ability to move well underneath the basket. Kara Faulk, a 5-11 forward, was a member of the 1998 Daily Oklahoman's Super Five team. Coleman Smith, a 6-1 forward, was an honorable mention All-American, according to USA Today. All three could see playing time this season.
The schedule this year should provide the backdrop to answer many of the questions about OSU. Included are quality non-conference tilts with SMU, Vanderbilt, New Mexico, Stephen F. Austin and Long Beach State. The Big 12 schedule continues to be powerful, including games with Texas Tech, Texas and Baylor, both home and away, and home games against Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska.
