Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirl Basketball Gets Back On Winning Track Against Southern Utah
December 19, 2006 | Cowgirl Basketball
The Cowgirls (9-1) showed no ill effects from their nine-day layoff as they produced a 62 percent shooting effort in the first half while holding the Thunderbirds (2-9) to an 18 percent clip from the field. The sizzling start also benefited from all 11 players that saw action getting in the scoring column to stake OSU to a 50-13 lead at the break.
"I thought we did a great job distributing the ball tonight. I thought we worked really hard during the week off on being a little more patient offensively, making the extra pass and not trying to force the ball into the post too quickly,” Cowgirl head coach Kurt Budke said. “That is why we got beat at Arkansas State. We were impatient. It was a lot better tonight. Obviously, the week off helped us as there were not very many complaints tonight."
Defensively, the Cowgirls smothered Southern Utah, holding the Thunderbirds in single digits through the first 18 minutes of the half and a 5-of-28 effort from the floor overall in the period. SUU's 13 points were the fewest OSU has allowed since the Cowgirls held Memphis to 13 points in the first half of their contest on Dec. 19, 2005.
“I thought the start defensively was unbelievable,” Budke said. “We kept talking to those who were on the bench, ‘Don't be that one person who will let us down defensively."
Senior Rashidat Sadiq paced OSU with 19 points after hitting seven of her nine shot attempts, while junior Maria Cordero added the seventh double-figure scoring outing of her career with 17 points off the bench.
Junior Danielle Green chipped in with 12 points, while freshman Andrea Riley added 11 points and team-high six assists. Sophomore Shaunte' Smith came off the bench to grab a career-high 13 rebounds as well.
The 55-point win was just one point shy of tying the school record for margin of victory and was OSU's largest triumph since defeating Prairie View A&M last season by the same spread.
The Cowgirls will return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host Texas Southern in Stillwater.
