2024-02-28 02:44:45
STILLWATER — Both with four fouls, Oklahoma State’s Stailee Heard and Hannah Gusters entered the game with just over four minutes remaining and their team tensely clinging to a lead.
But neither played like they were one mistake away from fouling out.
Heard had an assist and Gusters added the Cowgirls’ final field goal of the game as they closed out a 68-61 win over West Virginia on Tuesday night at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
OSU junior Anna Gret Asi had a team-high 22 points, while senior Quincy Noble added 15 and Gusters had 13.
Here are three takeaways from the win that pulled OSU back to even at 14-14 on the year:
More:Oklahoma State women’s basketball to honor 3 seniors in 2023-24 season’s final home game
Senior salute
OSU honored a trio of senior players prior to the game: guard Quincy Noble, forward Lior Garzon and forward Emilee Ebert.
While Ebert was on crutches as a result of her recent knee surgery from a season-ending injury, Garzon and Noble were in their regular starting spots, playing the vast majority of the game.
Noble turned in an effort typical of her lone season in Stillwater. She finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists, playing all 40 minutes.
And Garzon, who has an additional year of eligibility remaining should she choose to use it, wasn’t hitting from outside like usual, but still contributed three rebounds and three assists to go with her two points.
More:Why Oklahoma State softball pitcher Ivy Rosenberry’s strong start is a pleasant surprise
Asi from way downtown
OSU was 0-for-4 from 3-point range in the first half when Asi took an inbounds pass, needing to go the length of the court with five seconds left in the second quarter.
She tried to dribble free against West Virginia’s full-court zone press, but had nowhere to go. So she launched a shot from between the OSU midcourt logo and the top of the key on the opposite end of the floor.
Asi stood and watched as the ball swished through, turning toward her bench with a humble smile before her teammates swarmed her.
The shot gave OSU a 35-26 halftime lead.
More:Is Oklahoma State baseball two-way star Carson Benge’s pitching role becoming clearer?
Cowgirls conclude regular season at Baylor
WIth a 7-10 conference record, the Cowgirls kept themselves at the top of a cluster of teams jockeying for seeding as the Big 12 Tournament approaches. OSU remains in eighth place with several teams close behind.
With most of the midweek games set for Wednesday, OSU will have a better idea of its seeding possibilities when those games are completed.
The Cowgirls wrap up the regular season at Baylor with an 11 a.m. tipoff Sunday in Waco, Texas.
1709089583
#Oklahoma #State #womens #basketball #beats #West #Virginia #Senior #Night