Box Score
STILLWATER, Okla. – The 20th Ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls defeated Idaho State 74-45 in women's basketball action Monday night at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Okla.
With the win, the Cowgirls move to 4-0 on the season and Idaho State falls to 2-2.
Neither Idaho State nor Oklahoma State could get on the scoreboard early. The game went over two minutes before either team scored a point.
Oklahoma State's Lez Donohoe finally put points on the board when she hit a three pointer with 17:48 left in the first half. Donohoe's basket sparked a 9-2 Cowgirl run that culminated in a jumper by Brittney Martin with 16:03 left in the half.
OSU kept the pressure on to take a 38-18 lead into the half.
"Their fastbreak was so explosive and quick," Head Coach
Seton Sobolewski said. "We just couldn't keep up with their speed and athleticism. They are big, strong, fast and very well coached, they are the #20 team in the country for a reason."
The Bengals played a much more competitive second half.
Jessica Tingey led the way with 13 of her game-high 17 points coming after the break. She also had six rebounds to lead ISU.
"One of the bright spots was Jess Tingey," Sobolewski said. "You could see the light in her eyes and she just played very well. I think this game will help her confidence for the rest of the season."
The Bengals were still outscored in the second half but by a much smaller margin. Sobolewski says that the Bengals adjusted to the game.
"With a young team no matter how much you talk about the atmosphere and the intensity you can't prepare for it," Sobolewski said. "In the second half you could see the team starting to get into the rhythm and know what they are facing."
Despite the struggle, Sobolewski knows that this tough schedule will pay dividends during the Big Sky stretch.
"If you can remember the intensity of this game and apply it in a Big Sky game it will be huge for us during the season," Sobolewski said. "When you face tough teams you expose your weaknesses and stretch yourself. After two tough teams in a row you can see the improvement. I definitely saw growth from last game to this one."
The Bengals were outrebounded for the second straight game with OSU pulling down 44 rebounds to ISU's 30.
Lindsey Reed joined Tingey as the only other Bengals in double-figures with 10 points. It is her third straight game in which she scored in double-figures.
Donohoe led the Cowgirls with 12 points and LaShawn Jones scored 10. Five OSU players tied for the team lead with five rebounds.
Idaho State will continue their nine-game road stretch when they face Utah State in Logan Friday night at 7 p.m.
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