Cowgirls continue roll
Win over Texas puts team among best in school history
Cowgirls continue roll

STILLWATER — The best women's basketball team in Oklahoma State history?

Closing arguments won't be made for another month, but the 2007-08 Cowgirls are a viable candidate.

Led by Shaunte Smith's seventh career double-double and a game-high 21 points from Andrea Riley, the Cowgirls posted a 71-66 win over Texas to reach a noteworthy milestone Wednesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Only two other OSU women's teams have recorded more wins than these Cowgirls, who are 21-4 overall and 9-3 in league play, with a month left in the season.

"To only be in the third year of this reconstruction, we're very proud,” said coach Kurt Budke. "The biggest thing is people in America now know we're a player. The alumni and fans want to come here knowing every game we have a chance to win.”

Smith, a junior from Putnam City North, grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds and scored 14 points. Smith and Danielle Green (13 points) provided consistent scoring to help offset a rare Riley shooting slump. At one point, Riley was 3-of-16 from the field.

"If you want to pick a player of the year over the last five or six games, you might have to start with Shaunte with all the double-doubles she's had,” Budke said. "We've changed our game plans a little to get her the ball a little more.”

Coming off back-to-back lackluster outings, OSU jumped to a 15-5 lead to avenge an earlier loss to Texas. The Cowgirls would trail only once the entire game — 29-28 late in the first half.

The Cowgirls built a 15-point cushion with 4:50 to play. Texas clawed to within 61-57, but Riley sank six free throws the final minute to secure the win.

"It wasn't a thing of beauty,” Budke said. "But I don't think there's a lot of those going on right now. I don't think anybody is playing a lot of perfect basketball. I'm proud we found a way to get it done against a very good team that's a tough matchup for us.”

The most encouraging sign for Budke is the Cowgirls are winning even when Riley, his star point guard, has a sub-par game.

"Andrea is a competitor,” Budke said. "She likes to win. She'll be fine. With her not having a great night, and us still winning, that says a lot about the kids on this team.”

After being swept by Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Texas Tech last season, the Cowgirls already have posted wins over all five Big 12 South rivals.

"Last year, we didn't beat the elite teams,” Budke said. "We've taken a step. No matter what else happens, at least nobody will sweep us. At worst it will be a split. That's a big step for this program.”

As for the best-OSU-team-ever debate, the Cowgirls' No. 14 national ranking earlier this season is the highest in school history. They've already won five league road games, a school record.

The Cowgirls are one win shy of tying the record for most conference wins in the Big 12 era. They are two league wins shy of matching the 1990-91 team that owns the record for overall wins (27) and conference wins (11).

"This win should assure we'll be in the NCAA Tournament again,” Budke said. "To be 21-4 and 9-3, I couldn't be any more proud of what this team has accomplished to this point.”

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