Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Oklahoma State
Bulldogs Give OSU Toughest Test of the Season
11/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Nov. 24, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State women's basketball team gave Oklahoma State its toughest test of the season on Saturday but the Bulldogs still fell short losing 87-73. Coming into the Saturday morning matinee at the Save Mart Center the Cowgirls had beaten their opponents by an average of 35.4 points. The closest game for Oklahoma State prior to Saturday was a 76-58 win at UC Riverside on Wednesday.
The loss drops Fresno State to 0-3 while Oklahoma State improved to 6-0.
"We do have tough competition right now," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. "They are all tournament teams which is great and something we aspire to be. What we have to do is not get our head down. We have to keep our head up, keep fighting and believing in what we are doing. Hopefully that turns around in the month of December. "
LaShaunte Stephens led Fresno State in scoring with 17 points. Tierre Wilson added 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Emma Andrews had 10 points. Hayley Munro led Fresno State in rebounding with nine.
As a team Fresno State shot 40 percent from the floor and forced the Cowgirls into 18 turnovers.
Oklahoma State jumped out to a 25-15 lead with 8:49 to play in the first half. The Cowgirls maintained a seven to 10 point lead until the final three minutes of the first half when the Bulldogs outscored OSU 11-3 to cut the deficit to 36-32 at the break.
"I thought we adjusted really well today," Wiggins said. "I felt like our staff made some good decisions and put people in the right spots on the floor where they could succeed. It is just a matter of learning to execute that all the time. We executed that for about 30 minutes today. It was a pretty close game. We were always four down, six down and up a couple. I feel like we are getting close."
Fresno State opened the second half jumping out to a 42-39 lead thanks to baskets by Andrews and Munro. Oklahoma State retook the lead at 43-42 three minutes into the second half and then led by 10 at 56-46 four minutes later. Oklahoma State led by as many as 16 points in the second half.
Andrea Riley scored a game-high 32 points for Oklahoma State in the win.
The Bulldogs return to the court on Wednesday when they play at TCU at 4:30 p.m. The game can be heard live on 790 ESPN Radio, The Deuce.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State women's basketball team will travel to play TCU on Wednesday, November 28 at 5 p.m. The Bulldogs next home game is Saturday, December 1 against Utah at 1 p.m. on Harlem Globetrotters Day. Members of the Globetrotters will perform at halftime and will be hosting a free basketball clinic after the game for all ages. Tickets can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com, by phone at (559)485-TIXS or at the Save Mart Center box office.
