LINCOLN Yvonne Turner, Danielle Page and Cory Montgomery each scored 18 points, but it was not enough to stop No. 17-ranked Oklahoma State from running to a 92-81 win over the Nebraska women's basketball team at the Devaney Centeron Sunday afternoon.
Playing in front of a season-high crowd of 6,756 and a national television audience as part of ESPN2's "February Frenzy," Turner tied a career-high with 18 points, while adding four steals and three assists to help lead the Huskers back from a 31-point second-half deficit. Turner and Montgomery each scored 12 points in the second half, while Page added 11 of her 18 in the second half as well.
Nebraska (17-7, 6-4 Big 12) dominated the final 10 minutes of the game, but OSU was even better in the first 10 minutes of the second half. The Cowgirls (19-3, 7-2) outscored NU 33-9 in the first 9:22 of the second half to claim a 76-45 lead with 10:38 left in the game.
But Nebraska refused to throw in the towel against OSU, erupting on a 17-0 run over the next 3:48 to pull within 14 at 76-62 on a Montgomery three-pointer with 6:50 to play.
OSU's Shaunte' Smith stopped the run with a jumper, but NU then scored the next six points to pull within 78-68 with 4:47 left in the game. The Huskers were able to knock the OSU lead down to single digits at 83-74on a Page jumper with 1:10 left, but could get no closer as the Cowgirls sealed their victory by hitting eight straight free throws in the final minute.
Sophomore point guard Andrea Riley led Oklahoma State with 24 points and seven assists, but committed six turnovers and was bothered throughout the game by the tenacious pressure applied by NU's Turner. Riley was 8-for-21 from the field and 3-for-10 from three-point range, while hitting 5-of-7 free throws.
Smith proved to be a force for OSU, scoring 20 points and pulling down seven boards. She also added three steals. Smith hit 8-of-11 shots from the field and all four of her free throw attempts.
Riley and Smith led six Cowgirls in double figures, including 14 from Taylor Hardeman on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range. Maria Cordero (12), Danielle Green (10) and Kristin Hernandez (10) rounded out the double-figure scorers for OSU, which produced the highest point total by an NU opponent this season.
The Cowgirls shot a blistering 49.3 percent (33-67) from the field, including 10-of-20 shooting from three-point range. OSU also knocked down 16-of-19 free throws. OSU won the turnover battle (20-16), while NU outrebounded the Cowgirls (39-34).
Kelsey Griffin added 16 points and nine rebounds to give the Huskers four players in double figures, joining Turner, Page and Montgomery. Page added seven boards, while Montgomery pulled down five rebounds, including four on the offensive end to help NU.
The Huskers hit 46.9 percent (30-64) of their shots from the field, but just 5-of-21 three-pointers (23.8 percent). NU did connect on 16-of-22 free throws (72.7 percent).
Oklahoma State carried a 43-36 lead into the locker room at the halftime thanks to 14 first-half points from Riley and 11 from Smith. Griffin scored 10 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the opening half, while Page added seven points and Turner pitched in six points and three first-half steals.
The Cowgirls hit 47.4 percent (18-38) of their shots from the field in the half, including 4-of-10 three-pointers, all from well beyond the arc. The Huskers hit 45.5 percent (15-33) of their field goal attempts, but just 1-of-8 three-pointers. NU outscored OSU 5-3 at the free throw line and matched the Cowgirls with 20 rebounds, but Oklahoma State won the first-half turnover battle, 8-5.
The Huskers will take the midweek off before returning to Big 12 road action next Sunday. NU will take on Kansas at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence with tipoff scheduled for 2 p.m.
No. 17 OKLAHOMA ST. 92, NEBRASKA 81
OKLAHOMA ST. (19-3)
Smith 8-11 4-4 20, Cordero 3-10 4-4 12, Riley 8-21 5-7 24, Hardeman 4-6 2-2 14, Green 5-11 0-1 10, Hernandez 4-5 1-1 10, Walter 0-0 0-0 0, Byford 0-1 0-0 0, Richardson 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 33-67 16-19 92.
NEBRASKA (17-7)
Griffin 7-11 2-3 16, Page 5-10 8-10 18, Turner 7-14 2-5 18, Kelley 2-4 0-0 4, Hester 1-4 2-2 4, Burke 1-4 0-0 3, Neals 0-3 0-0 0, Kuhlmann 0-2 0-0 0, Montgomery 7-10 2-2 18, Bober 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 30-64 16-22 81.
HalftimeOklahoma St. 43-36. 3-Point GoalsOklahoma St. 10-20 (Hardeman 4-6, Riley 3-10, Cordero 2-3, Hernandez 1-1), Nebraska 5-21 (Montgomery 2-3, Turner 2-8, Burke 1-4, Page 0-1, Kelley 0-2, Neals 0-3). Fouled OutCordero. ReboundsOklahoma St. 34 (Cordero, Smith 7), Nebraska 39 (Griffin 9). AssistsOklahoma St. 19 (Riley 7), Nebraska 15 (Burke 5). Total FoulsOklahoma St. 18, Nebraska 19. A6,756.
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