Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Marist
Cowgirl Basketball Holds Off Marist, 71-69
November 27, 2009 | Cowgirl Basketball
Nov. 27, 2009
FREEPORT, Bahamas (OSU Athletics
The Cowgirls (4-1) hit just one of their first eight shots while the Red Foxes (2-2) ran out to a 15-4 lead. However, OSU responded with a 17-0 spurt fueled by seven points from senior Andrea Riley.
During that stretch, the Cowgirls held Marist scoreless for more than seven minutes and took a 21-15 advantage. OSU turned up its defense after the Red Foxes made three of their first five 3-pointers, allowing just two makes in Marist's final 12 attempts of the half.
OSU took a 30-27 lead into the halftime locker room.
After the break, the Cowgirls used a 10-2 run to stretch the lead into double figures with four different players scoring during the spurt to push the margin to 40-29.
After OSU built the lead to 14, Marist used a 10-0 run in just over a minute to pull within 60-58 with 4:30 remaining. The Red Foxes then pulled even on a pair of occasions in the final three minutes.
OSU freshman Toni Young came up with an offensive rebound and putback at the 1:22 mark to give OSU the lead for good at 69-67.
Marist looked to tie the game for the sixth time before Riley came up with a steal and knocked down a pair of free throws to push the margin to four.
The Red Foxes, who hit all 18 of their free throw attempts on the night, knocked down their final two with three seconds left to pull back within two. OSU's Lakyn Garrison missed the front end of a one-and-one with 1.5 ticks left, but Marist was unable to get a shot off before the final buzzer.
Riley finished with 17 points and six assists on the night.
Cunningham made six of her 11 shots on the way to a 15-point outing.
Making her first career start, Young responded with her first career double-double. The Del City, Okla., native scored 10 points to go with 16 rebounds.
Fellow freshman Lindsey Keller finished in double figures for the second consecutive game, adding 10 points and six rebounds.
Marist's Corielle Yarde led all scorers with 28 points, 19 of which came in the second half.
OSU will be back in action tomorrow at 7 p.m. (CST) in the championship game of the Lucaya Division against Michigan State.
