Oklahoma State University Athletics
Oklahoma State University
Wisconsin
Cowgirls Outlast Badgers, 50-42
December 05, 2010 | Cowgirl Basketball
Dec. 5, 2010
STILLWATER, Okla. - Oklahoma State's women's basketball team gutted out its 48th-straight non-conference home win on Sunday afternoon, earning a 50-42 victory over Wisconsin in the inaugural Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge in front of 2,189 fans inside Gallagher-Iba Arena.
Despite hitting just 13 of their 57 shots (23 percent) from the floor, the Cowgirls once again used a strong defensive effort to improve to 8-0 on the year. OSU's defensive pressure gave the Badgers (2-7) trouble all day as the Cowgirls forced 25 turnovers and outscored Wisconsin by a 23-5 count off miscues.
"It wasn't a thing of beauty, but it is a win. We knew coming in that it was going to be hard to get them out of the style they like to play. They like the game in the 50s, are big and strong and take away the lane. I thought they did exactly what we saw on film," OSU head coach Kurt Budke said.
"I can't remember very many wins like that in my career. It is kind of what these kids have been doing so far is finding a way to get it done, hanging in and hanging around and finding a way to get it done."
The Badgers jumped out to a quick six-point lead four minutes into the contest and led for much of the half until the Cowgirls took a 25-24 lead on a pair of free throws by Tiffany Bias at the 4:27 mark. OSU took its largest lead of the half 30 seconds later at 29-24 on a layup by freshman Kendra Suttles.
OSU shot 32 percent in the first half, but took a 31-29 lead into the intermission after forcing 14 turnovers.
The second half saw both teams hit just five field goals apiece and combine to hit two of their 26 3-point attempts.
Senior Lakyn Garrison hit her lone 3-pointer at a crucial time, connecting from the top of the key to put OSU in front for good, 41-40, with 5:47 on the clock.
With both squads struggling offensively, neither side led by more than two until Bias hit a layup to put the Cowgirls in front 43-40 with 4:20 remaining. The Andover, Kan., native scored the game's next four points on free throws before sophomore Toni Young added a layup with just under two minutes remaining to extend the lead to 49-40.
Bias led all scorers with 14 points, while Suttles came off the bench to add 10 of her own.
Taylor Wurtz paced the Badgers with eight points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Cowgirls will be back in action next Sunday when they host Duke at 1 p.m.
