By Mike Baldwin
Staff Writer
DES MOINES, Iowa — After owning the lead throughout most of an
NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament first-round game,
Oklahoma State players constantly looked up at the scoreboard.
For a young team making its first
NCAA Tournament appearance in 11 years, seconds ticked away like sand in an hour glass.
A senior-laden Bowling Green team with something to prove overcame a 14-point deficit to rally for a 70-66 win. The Cowgirls learned an invaluable lesson.
"Last year at this time, maybe deep down, we were just a little satisfied to get in the tournament,” said
OSU coach
Kurt Budke. "Maybe we didn't truly believe we belonged. This team believes we can win. There's definitely a different attitude.”
The Cowgirls, 25-7, are motivated to not only post a win tonight in a first-round
NCAA Tournament game against
East Tennessee State, they're confident they can make extended run.
"Last year, we didn't even know for sure whether we'd get in,” said guard
Taylor Hardeman. "When we got in, maybe we were so excited we got satisfied. This year, if we play like we're capable, we can beat anyone just like we beat OU, beat Baylor and beat
Texas A&M.”
With a win tonight,
OSU will play the winner of
Ohio State-Florida State on Monday, that winner advancing to the Sweet 16. Budke's message all week has been to view Des Moines as a mini four-game tournament.
"They're motivated and understand that everybody's dangerous,” Budke said. "It's a confident mindset. The Bowling Green game is a game we probably should have won. They wanted to take the next step, and here we are.”
OSU has won only one women's
NCAA Tournament game the past 17 years, a win over Rhode Island in 1996. The only Sweet 16 appearance in school history was in 1991.
The Cowgirls are ranked No. 13 nationally, the highest in school history. The No. 3 seed is the highest in school history. Reach the Sweet 16 in New Orleans and they will match the most wins in school history.
"We have done a lot this year, but we're not done,” said
OSU All-American point guard
Andrea Riley. "This team has taken our game to another level. We have the fight, heart and belief that we can win games.”
East Tennessee State, 21-11, is making its women's
NCAA Tournament debut. First-time teams sometimes feel the jitters, but
East Tennessee State senior
Nichelle Akers said the
Bucs should play loose.
"There's no pressure on us,”
Akers said. "We have nothing to lose and are going to go out and play hard.”
The Cowgirls don't view it as pressure as much as an opportunity. After tasting the
NCAA Tournament experience, they want more.
"Last year was the first time for everyone,” said senior guard
Danielle Green. "This time, we know we can go out, win games and get
OSU on the map.”
A blowout win over
Oklahoma, road wins at
Texas A&M and Baylor, and a run to the
Big 12 Tournament finals makes the Cowgirls the favorite to win two games in Des Moines and advance to the Sweet 16.
"We've proved we can play with anybody in the country,” said forward Shaunte Smith. "It's been a fun run. We want to keep it going. If we stay together we can win two, three, who knows, maybe win four and go to the Final Four.”
