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Recap: Oklahoma State Bounces Back, Defeats Cincinnati 64-48

The Cowgirls get right in Cincy.

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1 year ago

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[Devin Wilber/PFB]

The Cowgirls won 14 games all of last season. They could match that win total this coming Saturday.

Oklahoma State defeated Cincinnati on the road 64-48, bouncing back from an off night and the Cowgirls’ first loss in Big 12 play.

Stailee Heard’s second-straight double-double, a dominant performance on the glass and some stingy defense were enough to overcome a slow start and a season high in turnovers.

The Cowgirls’ season low in shooting last weekend bled over into the start of Wednesday night’s game. After shooting just 36.4% from the field in a loss to Kansas on Saturday, OSU shot just 6-of-19 in the first quarter and 0-for-9 from 3. The Cowgirls still entered the game ranked fourth in the nation in both field-goal percentage (49.5%) and 3-point percentage 39%). But a 14-8 rebounding advantage helped OSU take a 12-9 lead into the second. The Cowgirls settled into a groove, shooting 6-for-11 in the second and making two of three deep balls.

OSU took a 26-23 lead into the break, but the Bearcats came clawing out of the locker room, making three-straight buckets to take a 29-28 lead. The two teams jockeyed for control until the Cowgirls rattled off a 9-0 run late in the third. The Cowgirls kept their foot on the gas in the fourth, building a 12-point lead by the midway point of the final frame and keeping the Bearcats at bay.

The last time these two teams met, Heard was also OSU’s leading scorer, but this time it ended more favorably for her.

Almost a year ago, Heard scored 14 points to lead the Cowgirls, but OSU fell short 58-56 in what Heard recalled was “a heartbreaking feeling.” She seemed intent on wiping that away.

Heard led all scorers Wednesday night with 21 points on 8-of-18 shooting, including three made 3s. She also grabbed 13 boards, dished out four assists and plucked away five steals, making a strong case for Big 12 Player of the Week. Heard has scored in double digits in six of the last seven. This was her second-straight 20-10 double-double and her sixth double-double of the year.

“I just didn’t want to have that feeling again this year,” said Heard after the game.

Alexia Smith added 12 points on just seven shots to go along with four rebounds and three assists of her own.


Those performances went a long way in combating a 21-13 turnover disadvantage and OSU giving up 19 points off of those turns. The Cowgirls out-rebounded the Bearcats 49-30, but they somehow took three fewer field-goal attempts and tied with Cincy in second-chance points (7-7).

The Cowgirls did crank up the D. Coming off a season-high 46.3% shooting in a losing effort to TCU, the Bearcats were held to just 30% from the field (19-of-64) and 18% from 3.

With the win, the Cowgirls move to 13-2 and 3-1 in Big 12 play. Next up, they’ll host No. 17 West Virginia at 2 p.m. Saturday. The Mountaineers also enter Saturday’s game 13-2 (3-1) after a blowout win at Texas Tech.

 

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