(Basketball News – Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sometimes games are hard-fought battles won through sweat and muscle, but Oklahoma State will forever talk about how it beat the West Virginia State women, 64-57, on its home court. Dew. Saturday in Stillwater.
However, the game wasn’t won by the Cowgirls’ signature second-half comeback, as they held the Mountaineers to just 19 second-half points in the final 20 minutes, shooting just 21.1 percent from 7-of-33 from the field. . Only one of those field goals came from a 3-point shot.
It was an overwhelming defense, but this game wasn’t won with a grunt, it was won in an instant.
Call it a miracle in Stillwater, because WVU headed into the locker room at halftime with a comfortable 38-30 lead, but a strong defensive effort put them in position to defend in the second half.
Then, as the clock ticked down to the final second of the first half, Anna Goulet-Ashi said a prayer from two steps away from half court.
The ball slowly flew through the air as the players watched. They knew it was online, but come on, over half the court?
yes.
Bingo, bango, boffo, the ball went through the net. No iron, no backboard, nothing.
For a moment, the shooter looked in disbelief, but then he matched Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer, who crossed the goal line with an improbable game-winning touchdown in the College Football Playoff that sent the Buckeyes to the championship game. It turned into a smile.
At that moment, the lead was cut to five points and everything turned upside down.
Oklahoma State ran into the locker room. WVU came into a state of shock. All of a sudden it became a two-possession game, and no matter what anyone said, the game changed from there.
It was like a Las Vegas gambler hitting 18 against the dealer’s ace and making a different kind of 3-pointer that set them on a wild and amazing winning streak.
WVU was unable to score from there. Kylie Blacksten had her best start of the game with 13 points in the first quarter and would finish the game with 16 points.
West Virginia All-American JJ Cunally and her backcourt running mate Jordan Harrison were the team’s leading scorers, but combined for 18 points, making just 7 of 27 shots. It was 0 out of 7 out of 3.
Now, it’s true that Oklahoma State played great defense against both of them throughout, constantly doubling Quinerly and not letting Harrison get into any kind of comfort zone. They were attacking so hard that they didn’t seem to want to put the ball up in the second half and often looked vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Cowgirls star Stylie Hurd had 18 points and seven rebounds.
The most important number is that Oklahoma State’s defense refused to allow WVU to turn defense into offense. The Mountaineers forced 24 turnovers but only scored 20 points and were sloppy with the ball, resulting in 18 fewer turnovers for Oklahoma State.
That and shots that covered more than half the court made the difference in the game.
