Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowgirls Open Against Rice
November 12, 2011 | Cowgirl Basketball
Nov. 12, 2011
Oklahoma State Cowgirls
0-0 overall; 0-0 Big 12
vs.
Rice Owls
0-1 overall
Game 1
Nov. 13, 2011 :: 2 p.m. CST
Stillwater, Okla.
Gallagher-Iba Arena (13,611)
What 2 Watch 4
• OSU will start its seventh season under head coach Kurt Budke on Sunday at 2 p.m. when it hosts Rice.
• The Cowgirls posted a 55-51 exhibition win over Fort Hays State on Wednesday.
• Sunday's contest will tip off a five-game homestand to start the year for the Cowgirls.
• The Cowgirls are 4-2 in season openers under Budke after knocking off Texas Southern, 68-30, last year.
• The Cowgirls are 27-11 all time in season openers.
• The Cowgirls own a 5-0 mark all time against Rice
• OSU has won all three meetings with the Owls in Stillwater.
• The last meeting between the two school's came in the first round of the WNIT in 1998 and resulted in a 75-52 Cowgirl victory.
• The Cowgirls have won 53 of their last 54 non-conference home games.
Know The Foe
• Rice comes to town looking to bounce back from a 61-58 loss at Prairie View A&M on Friday.
• Rice is coming off a WNIT campaign a year ago in which the Owls finished 18-14 and lost in the first round to Missouri State.
• The Owls return four starters from a year ago and were picked second in the preseason Conference USA poll.
• Sophomore forward Jessica Kuster was named the conference freshman of the year, a first-team all-league selection as well as the All-Conference USA Defensive squad a year ago.
• Kuster averaged a team-best 14.1 points and 10.6 rebounds per game.
• Kuster also recorded 13 double-doubles during her rookie campaign.
Non-Conference Success
In six seasons under head coach Kurt Budke, the Cowgirls have enjoyed considerable success during their non-conference schedule, posting a 65-12 record against non-league opponents during the regular season. Three times under Budke OSU has started 8-0, including a year ago. OSU has posted a 53-4 record against non-conference foes inside Gallagher-Iba Arena over the past six years. The Cowgirls also had a 48-game non-conference winning streak, which came to an end last year against fifth-ranked Duke.
