Riley learning as she goes
OSU guard too fiery at times

By Jenni Carlson

Published: October 12, 2008

STILLWATER — To understand the fire inside Andrea Riley, you need to see her on football Saturdays.

The Oklahoma State point guard sits on the front row at Boone Pickens Stadium, though she rarely uses the seat.

Wearing a football jersey and a game face, she never stops hollering.

There are cheers for the Cowboys and jeers for the opponents.

Riley is as into the game as anyone without a helmet and shoulder pads can be.

That feisty, fiery attitude helped her become one of the best women’s basketball players in the country. As college practices begin this week, no other player is more dynamic than the 5-foot-5 fireball.

But what makes Riley great has gotten her into trouble.

The NCAA reprimanded Riley in August, suspending her from the Cowgirls’ next NCAA Tournament game after she smacked LSU point guard Erica White in the back of the head.

"I learned a lot,” Riley said in her first interview since the suspension. "You just have to think about what you do.”

Riley admits she was reacting, not thinking when she hit White.

"It’s a mistake,” Riley said, "and you can’t make them anymore. If something like that happens again, you know what’s going to be the outcome, so why do it again?”

Riley seems to have matured since the incident. Seems to have learned from it, too.

At least that’s what she’s tried to do.

Riley called on longtime friend Nancy Lieberman for advice.

She has known the Hall of Famer and television broadcaster for years, having attended her camps, but the two have maintained regular contact of late.

Lieberman pulls no punches with Riley.

"She’s like an older sister to me,” Riley said. "(Her advice) really made me see that you have to think about everything that you do, but at the same time, don’t lose any of the aggression.”

Lieberman, after all, was known as one of the most intense players the women’s game has ever seen. She never let up. She never backed down.

Riley never has either, and along with Cowgirl coach Kurt Budke, she has transformed OSU from conference doormat to national power.

With Riley at the point, the Cowgirls will stand toe-to-toe with any team in the country.

"Don’t try to change your demeanor,” Riley remembers Lieberman telling her, "but look at things before you actually react.”

The Sweet 16 incident, after all, was hardly Riley’s first transgression.

A couple weeks earlier, she hit Texas’ Earnesia Williams in the face during a scramble for the ball at the Big 12 Tournament.

She was noticed for all the wrong reasons.

"Women’s basketball fans nationally who saw the two games ... are not likely to have a very favorable view of her on-court temperament,” said Mechelle Voepel, ESPN.com’s lead women’s basketball writer. "I received several e-mails from ESPN.com readers wondering what was going on with Riley.”

Riley said, "If you go around thinking about what other people say about you ... that’ll just make you have low self-esteem. I really don’t have time to be low; I have a team to lead.”

Thing is, if something like this happens again, Riley will have more to worry about than her reputation.

Another incident would almost surely draw a serious suspension from either her school or her conference.

Regardless of that, Riley has already put her team in danger.

Whatever success the Cowgirls have in the regular season — and it could be significant — it might be jeopardized with Riley benched for the NCAA Tournament opener.

Neither she nor her team can afford more trouble.

How can she play on the edge without going over it?

Riley sees that not as a question of addition, not subtraction.

"Don’t lose anything,” she said. "Just try to gain every day.”

Riley needs to stoke the fire without being burned.

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