Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Basketball Drops Fresno State, 65-49, To Remain Undefeated
November 27, 2006 | Cowgirl Basketball
Oklahoma State's women's basketball team survived a physical, hard-fought battle on Sunday afternoon to defeat Fresno State, 65-49, in front of 2,475 fans inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 5-0, marking their best start since winning their first five games of the 1998-99 season.
"I knew coming in that (Fresno State) was a well-coached team. I thought we struggled early and were a little timid, but I thought we grew up,” Cowgirl head coach Kurt Budke said. “I thought you saw a team that grew up as the game went on. We needed this kind of game. Even though we have had early success this season, we had not yet played a team like this, which was tough and aggressive.”
In the first half, the two teams found themselves locked in a defensive battle as neither team led by more than three points and exchanged the lead five times. With the score tied for the eighth time in the half, the Bulldogs (3-1) were able to get a layup with a minute remaining to head into the intermission with a 24-22 lead.
After falling behind by five early in the second half, OSU began to control the boards at both ends of the floor, outrebounding FSU by 13 to swing the momentum back in its favor. Over a five-minute span, the Cowgirls turned five offensive rebounds into nine points to build a 10-point lead with three minutes remaining.
Junior Danielle Green scored 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half to lead the charge, while sophomore Shaunte' Smith came off the bench with 12 points and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
The two teams combined for 52 fouls and combined to shoot 55 free throws during the contest.
The Cowgirls will return to action on Thursday when they close out their season-opening six-game homestand with a 7 p.m. contest against Missouri-Kansas City.
With the win, the Cowgirls improved to 5-0, marking their best start since winning their first five games of the 1998-99 season.
"I knew coming in that (Fresno State) was a well-coached team. I thought we struggled early and were a little timid, but I thought we grew up,” Cowgirl head coach Kurt Budke said. “I thought you saw a team that grew up as the game went on. We needed this kind of game. Even though we have had early success this season, we had not yet played a team like this, which was tough and aggressive.”
In the first half, the two teams found themselves locked in a defensive battle as neither team led by more than three points and exchanged the lead five times. With the score tied for the eighth time in the half, the Bulldogs (3-1) were able to get a layup with a minute remaining to head into the intermission with a 24-22 lead.
After falling behind by five early in the second half, OSU began to control the boards at both ends of the floor, outrebounding FSU by 13 to swing the momentum back in its favor. Over a five-minute span, the Cowgirls turned five offensive rebounds into nine points to build a 10-point lead with three minutes remaining.
Junior Danielle Green scored 16 of her career-high 18 points in the second half to lead the charge, while sophomore Shaunte' Smith came off the bench with 12 points and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive glass.
The two teams combined for 52 fouls and combined to shoot 55 free throws during the contest.
The Cowgirls will return to action on Thursday when they close out their season-opening six-game homestand with a 7 p.m. contest against Missouri-Kansas City.
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