Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Set For First Sweet 16 Since 1991
March 27, 2008 | Cowgirl Basketball
OSU Set For First Sweet 16 Since 1991
For the first time since 1991, Oklahoma State's women's basketball team 27-7 is one of just 16 teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament. OSU, the No. 3 seed in the New Orleans Regional, advanced with wins over East Tennessee State and Florida State. The Cowgirls will take on the second-seeded LSU Lady Tigers (29-5) on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in New Orleans Arena. The winner will advance to take on the winner of the Louisville-North Carolina contest. Saturday's game will be televised by ESPNHD with Eric Collins, Carolyn Peck and Beth Mowins serving as the talent.
NCAA 411
The Cowgirls are 6-8 all time in the NCAA tourney. OSU is in the midst of its first back-to-back NCAA appearance since its four-year run from 1993-96. The No. 3 seed is OSU's best in the event, surpassing its No. 5 seed in 1991. Making just its second Sweet 16 appearance (1991 being the other), the Cowgirls enter the weekend looking to earn their first-ever regional final berth. Head coach Kurt Budke is making his third Sweet 16 appearance as a head coach.
Scouting LSU
LSU is making its 10th consecutive NCAA appearance and has reached the Final Four in each of the past four seasons. The Lady Tigers boast the SEC Coach of the Year in Van Chancellor as well as the conference player of the year in Sylvia Fowles. LSU enters the regional semifinal with one of the nation's best defensive squads. LSU ranks first nationally in scoring defense (50.6 ppg) and fourth in field goal percentage defense (34.6%). The Lady Tigers also rank among the country's best in scoring margin (4th, +20.4), assists (6th, 17.7 apg) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1st). Fowles leads LSU in scoring (17.2 ppg) and rebounding (9.9 rpg). She also ranks sixth nationally with her 59.9 field goal percentage
OSU vs. LSU
The Cowgirls and have faced LSU on three previous occasions with the last meeting coming in 1997. The Lady Tigers have won all three contests and all three have come in various tournaments. LSU posted an 86-61 win in Baton Rouge during the 1976 AIAW regional tournament to open the series. The two teams did not meet again until 1996 when LSU tallied a 69-48 win in the Sunsplash Shootout in Nassau, Bahamas. The 1997 meeting came in the Hawaiian Regent Classic in Honolulu and resulted in a 68-66 overtime victory for the Lady Tigers.
