The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
16-10, 4-8
Oklahoma State
21-4, 9-3
Oklahoma State clips Women's Basketball, 71-66
02.20.2008 | Women's Basketball
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- Even with a new member of Oklahoma State's supporting cast putting up big numbers, it's still Andrea Riley's team when it comes to crunch time.
Riley scored 10 of her 21 points in the final 2 minutes and No. 16 Oklahoma State held off a late rally to beat Texas 71-66 Wednesday night.
Riley, who'd been struggling through a miserable shooting performance, hit all six of her free throws and added a pair of layups down the stretch as the Cowgirls let the Longhorns cut a 15-point deficit to three before closing out the victory.
"I trust her and she might miss five in a row, but she can hit the next five too," Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke said. "She's obviously an exciting player, and I'm awful proud to have her."
Maria Cordero added 15 points, Shaunte Smith had 14 points and a career-high 17 rebounds and Danielle Green scored 13 for Oklahoma State (21-4, 9-3 Big 12)
Riley, who averages a Big 12-leading 25.1 points, started the game 2-for-14 before her strong finish.
"With her not having a great night tonight and us winning, I think it says a lot about the kids on this team right now," Budke said.
Smith had the latest in a string of strong performances since the start of February. After averaging 6.8 points in the Cowgirls' first 19 games, Smith has averaged 15.5 points in six games this month.
She's also had her career high in scoring (21) and her top two rebounding performances in that stretch.
"We've just got to look to contribute in other ways," Smith said. "Coach said we've got to have more than Andrea Riley do all the work. I think everyone else just looked to pick up her slack in points or rebounding."
For a while, it appeared a fan whose half-court shot won him $10,000 would provide the most scintillating action of the night. Shortly after that play was shown on the arena big screen as the play of the game, Texas (16-10, 4-8) mounted a rally to make it interesting.
After Cordero's 3-pointer gave Oklahoma State a 57-42 lead, Earnesia Williams answered with a layup to start a 15-4 run by the Longhorns. Her 3-pointer got Texas within 61-57.
Carla Cortijo hit another 3-pointer with 9.5 seconds left to cut the deficit to 69-66, but Riley hit her final two free throws to provide the final margin.
"I was proud of the way my team came back, but against a great team you can't afford to just play hard and passionate and smart for 10 minutes," Texas coach Gail Goestenkors said. "It's going to take 40 minutes."
Ashley Lindsey had 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead Texas, which has lost its past 10 road games in Big 12 play. Cortijo added 15 points, Brittainey Raven scored 12 and Williams had 11.
Lindsey scored 10 of Texas' first 21 points, cutting Oklahoma State's early 15-5 lead down to two before she picked up her second foul with 6:07 left in the half.
The Longhorns took their only lead at 29-28 on Raven's 3-pointer, but Smith answered with a layup and the Cowgirls took a 35-32 edge into halftime.
Lindsey scored to start the second half and bring Texas within one, but both teams' offenses struggled after that.
Oklahoma State went on a 14-4 run that lasted more than 12 minutes. After Lindsey's basket, Texas missed 16 of its next 18 shots while falling behind 49-38.
"Figuring out a way to get it done, that's all it was tonight. It wasn't a thing of beauty at all, but I don't think there's a lot of those going on right now," Budke said. "I don't think anybody's playing a lot of perfect basketball."
POSTGAME NOTES
- This was the 11th game of the year for Texas which was decided by 10 points or less - and the seventh in the last 11 decided by 10 points or less ... Texas is now 6-5 in these games - 4-1 in games decided by 6-10 points (2-1 in Big 12 play) and 2-3 in games decided by 1-5 points (including a 1-3 mark in Big 12 action)
- UT junior post Ashley Lindsey (18 points/10 rebounds) was two points shy of her career high as she registered her registered her fifth double-double of the year and the eighth of her career ... All five double-doubles have come in the last 12 games ... This was Lindsey's first since that 20 point/10 rebound game against Baylor on Jan. 30
- Texas is still looking for its first Big 12 road victory of the year, as the Horns are now 0-6 in away conference games this year ... UT has lost its last 10 Big 12 away game (six games this season and the last four games of last year)... The last time the Longhorns won in Big 12 play on the road was over a year ago - on Feb. 3, 2007 - when UT defeated Kansas State, 61-34, in Manhattan, Kansas
- Texas is now 5-4 against Top 25 opponents this year ... Against teams in the Big 12 who were ranked in the Top 25 when Texas met them, the Longhorns are 2-4
- This was the ninth straight game that Lindsey has notched double-figure scoring ... That is the longest career string of double-digit scoring for her and the second-longest by a Longhorns this year (longest was Brittainey Raven's 20 consecutive games in double-digit scoring to start the season)
- Brittainey Raven (12 points) reached double-figure scoring for the 25th time in 26 games
- Texas and OSU split their home-and-home regular season series ... Texas won the first meeting in Austin, as the 23rd-ranked Longhorns upset No. 14/19 OSU, 70-63, on Jan. 23
