Oklahoma State University Athletics
A Run To Remember ... The 2012 WNIT
March 14, 2017 | Cowgirl Basketball
Just one game into the 2011-12 season, Oklahoma State's women's basketball team was dealt an unimaginable set of circumstances when head coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna and Cowgirl supporters Olin and Paula Branstetter were killed in a plane crash on Nov. 17 during a recruiting trip in Arkansas.
Despite coping with the unthinkable all season long, the Cowgirls navigated an always-rugged Big 12 schedule admirably and put together a respectable NCAA resumé. The Cowgirls wrapped up the regular season with 16 wins overall (Note: OSU cancelled two non-conference games following the tragedy) and eight wins in Big 12 play, including a pair over Top 25 opponents.
However, when the NCAA Championship bracket was revealed, the Cowgirls found themselves on the outside looking in, earning the distinction of No. 65 in a 64-team field.
Nevertheless, no team was better equipped to handle the heartache of being the odd man out than OSU because of the hand it was dealt in mid-November. With proper perspective, the Cowgirls knew the true meaning of heartache and turned their attention toward winning the school's first-ever WNIT title as a way to pay honor to the "4", echoing the message head coach Jim Littell had preached all season long.
Triumph Over Tragedy
Through the first five games of the tournament, the Cowgirls were impressive, winning by an average margin of 15.4 points and never trailing in the second half at any point.
Fittingly, the championship game would provide OSU's stiffest test to date in 29-win James Madison.
Behind an energetic crowd of 6,157, the Cowgirls put together an inspired performance that saw them shoot 48 percent from the floor and get outstanding performances from a trio of budding stars to outlast a formidable JMU squad, 75-68.
· Junior Toni Young scored a game-high 25 points to go with nine boards and three steals.
· Sophomore Tiffany Bias logged a double-double, finishing with 17 points and 11 assists to go with five steals, while turning in her patented full 40-minute workday.
· Freshman Liz Donohoe played all 40 minutes as well, recording her fifth consecutive double-double (14 points, 11 rebounds) and adding six assists, three steals and two blocks.
The Springboard
The WNIT title proved to be a blessing in disguise and just what the Cowgirls needed to produce the most successful stretch in program history. Littell's squad parlayed their championship run into a string of four consecutive NCAA appearances, including the program's third Sweet 16 appearance in 2014.
Momentum from OSU's WNIT victory can be measured in a series of program milestones.
· The Cowgirls' win over James Madison was its 22nd of the year and capped the first of a school-record five consecutive 20-win seasons.
· The win over the Dukes extended OSU's single-season school record for home victories to 18 and is part of OSU's current string of 55 consecutive home wins against non-conference opponents.
· The victory would serve as the foundation for four consecutive NCAA Championship appearances, which matched the school record.
· OSU's run was another example of the importance of homecourt advantage. With all six wins coming on the historic floor inside Gallagher-Iba Arena, the Cowgirls improved to 11-0 all time in WNIT home games.
· OSU's six-game run saw the emergence of a trio of stars in Tiffany Bias, Liz Donohoe and Toni Young, who would all go on to decorated careers and have an integral part in NCAA successes to come before going on to their own professional careers.
· Young averaged 20.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and had one double-double in the tournament en route to earning MVP honors.
· Donohoe averaged 17.0 points, 11.0 rebounds and tallied five-straight double-doubles to earn all-tournament honors
· Bias averaged 15.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 7.8 assists, 2.2 steals and played all but one minute over the final five games.
· The Cowgirls won the title without a single senior on the roster. In fact, of the 12 players on the roster, nine were underclassmen who gained valuable experience for future postseason success.
Not only did OSU's WNIT run allow its young team to grow and prepare for future successes, it provided opportunity for growth in the fanbase as well with attendance numbers reflecting that.
2012 WNIT Game-By-Game Attendance
Game 1: Central Arkansas — 1,324
Game 2: Wichita State – 1,482
Game 3: Missouri State — 2,372
Game 4: Colorado — 2,392
Game 5: San Diego — 3,484
Game 6: James Madison — 6,157
"It was exciting because we saw the line an hour before. They were people outside waiting, and we never see that at games. To see that the numbers are increasing by a thousand is really exciting. If we can get them to come back next year, we'll get more used to playing in front of a lot of people. I was nervous, but I get nervous before every game. Seeing all those people out there made me nervous, but it was exciting to know that they were there for us." — Former Cowgirl All-American Toni Young
The Hardware
Recognition was widespread following the squad's championship run with the Cowgirls picking up awards at both the national and state levels.
WNIT All-Tournament Team
Liz Donohoe
Toni Young (MVP)
RUSSELL ATHLETIC "Together We R" Team Award, which honors a program that have striven to succeed in the face of adversity, overcoming extraordinary circumstances.
Oklahoma City Thunder/Devon Energy Community Hero Award
Oklahoma State Senate Concurrent Resolution 37 was approved congratulating the team for their courage and perseverance
The Quoteboard
"When you're talking in terms of basketball, this group has accomplished so much, and gotten so much better. They were exciting to watch. The stretch in the WNIT has done so much for this program: the confidence level, allowing a young group to continue to play, a chance to build our fanbase." — Oklahoma State Head Coach Jim Littell
"(Toni) Young is probably the best center we've played against all year. She was tremendous inside and athletic, and (Tiffany) Bias was probably the best point guard we've played against all year. Those two I thought were the biggest factors, and we just couldn't contain them when we needed to. That group, they've done a very special thing for this program at Oklahoma State and we tip our hat to them." — James Madison Head Coach Kenny Brooks
"It's a feeling that words can't describe. It's hard to explain. There's so many emotions going through your head. You're just happy. You have a smile on your face because you know you've done it for a team and our whole community." — Former Cowgirl All-American Tiffany Bias
"The WNIT isn't the goal every year, but following a tragedy you want the game to help you return to normal. It would have been easy to give up on the season, but our team didn't do that. The way the kids came together through such tremendous adversity and played for those we lost was inspiring to say the least. And when Shelley Budke helped cut down the nets the run was complete! And something just felt right." Cowgirl Basketball Color Analyst Casey Kendrick
"This is the stuff movies are made of. Could the Cowgirls, after all this team has been through, really make a six-game run through the WNIT and put a bow on the nightmare that had been? Yes! In front of more than 6,000 fans on their feet, the Cowgirls would knock off James Madison to claim the WNIT Championship. The tears would again flow, this time with some happiness as Shelley Budke would cut down the net and point to the sky with a lot of emotion to honor her late husband." Cowgirl Basketball Play-By-Play Voice Kevin Gum
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Congrats to Coach Littell, his staff & the OKST Lady Cowgirls on winning the WNIT. Great story of persevering & overcoming tragedy.
— gary kloppenburg (@CoachKlop) March 31, 2012
Congrats to the #OSUCOWGIRLS winning the #WNIT. I'm very proud of these young ladies...
— Thurman Thomas (@thurmanthomas) March 31, 2012
Great day in Stillwater as #OKState Women win #WNIT Championship! Emotional season ends on high note. Congrats Cowgirls!
— OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) March 31, 2012
Got off the course and was told about OSU Cowgirl Basketball winning the NIT!!! So proud of the team! A well deserved highlight this season!
— Karin Sjodin (@karin_sjodin) April 1, 2012
Congrats to @OSUWBB for winning #WNIT title with 75-68 win over James Madison. #Big12
— Baylor Lady Bears (@BaylorWBB) March 31, 2012
Another great day spent on the Oklahoma State campus. Among the most hospitable anywhere. Thanks OSU nation. Great win for the Cowgirls.
— Pedro Gomez (@pedrogomezESPN) April 1, 2012
Final 4 is where its at,but let's salute Oklahoma St women's team winning the WNIT. They're a portrait of strength in the face of tragedy
— MarkJonesESPN (@MarkJonesESPN) April 1, 2012
One headline not be overlooked today is that Oklahoma St. won the WNIT; Amazing story with the tragedy they went through this season
— Sean Farnham (@SeanFarnham) April 1, 2012
No matter what happens tonight, I think the coolest basketball story today will be OK St. winning the women's NIT after what they went thru
— David Worlock (@DavidWorlock) March 31, 2012
Congrats to Oklahoma State for winning the WNIT! I'm sure Kurt and Miranda are so proud of this team.
— Brenda VanLengen (@BrendaVanLengen) March 31, 2012
#Big12 WBB: Congrats to OSU WNIT Champions!!!
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) March 31, 2012
Congrats to Oklahoma State on winning the #WNIT Championship. Fantastic hosts, hospitable town. As Coach Littell said, "...honor was paid."
— Thad Anderson (@ThadPxP) April 1, 2012
Congrats to Oklahoma State's women's team on winning the WNIT. Had to be an emotional end to a difficult year.
— Memphis W Basketball (@MemphisWBB) April 1, 2012
Congrats to OK State Cowgirls!! WNIT Champions!! #GO BIG 12
— Bonnie Henrickson (@coachbonnieUCSB) April 1, 2012
Yes, so true! @jariaskins: Congrats to OSU Cowgirls 2012 WNIT champs & great fans who supported all season! All Oklahomans are proud of you!
— Red Cross SW (@RedCrossBloodSW) April 1, 2012
Congrats to the OK St. women's team on winning the WNIT Championship. A tremendous achievement, given all they went through this year.
— Tyler Neal (@T_Neal) March 31, 2012
So Happy for #OKstate WBB as they win the WNIT. What a tremendous season for them under unspeakable circumstance. #Big12
— Billy Fennelly (@BillyFennelly) March 31, 2012
Congrats to Oklahoma State on winning the WNIT! Championship in EVERY WAY!!
— Bill Fennelly (@ISUCoachFen) March 31, 2012
Congrats @OSUWBB ! A season fans won't forget! #WNIT champs! #okstate
— OKC All Sports (@okcAllSports) March 31, 2012
Congrats to the #OKState #Cowgirls on a great season and in winning the inaugural "Together We R" Team Award: http://t.co/SvhR6XBk
— News 9 Sports (@News9Sport) April 3, 2012
Proud to help OKSenate honor #OKState Cowgirls hoops team today! http://t.co/Cs6P6ByF #Courageous #Inspirational @okstatenews
— Governor Mary Fallin (@GovMaryFallin) April 12, 2012
