by SAN ANTONIO — Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team used a big second-quarter surge to pull away from Wake Forest on Sunday, notching an 84-61 win over the Demon Deacons in the first round of the NCAA Championship at Bill Greehey Arena.
The Cowgirls, who improved to 19-8 on the year, shot 54 percent from the floor and scored at least 20 points in the final three quarters to log their first NCAA win since 2018.
The Demon Deacons connected on seven of their 14 shots from the floor in the first, but the Cowgirls countered with their All-American, Natasha Mack. The senior forward scored eight points in the quarter to lead OSU. Wake Forest led by four before OSU used a 5-0 run to move in front, 15-13. The teams were tied at 15 at the break.
OSU opened the second period on a 9-0 run to move in front, 24-15. The Cowgirls would hit seven of their first nine shots in the period and would extend the margin to double digits for the first time at 31-18 halfway through the quarter. Junior Ja’Mee Asberry drilled her third 3-pointer of the quarter as time expired to give OSU a 42-29 lead at the break.
Mack finished the half with 15 points and eight rebounds.
Both teams continued their offensive efficiency in the second half with Wake Forest hitting 41 percent of its shots, while OSU hit a scorching 56 percent floor. The Cowgirls outscored the Demon Deacons by a 22-21 count to take a 64-50 lead into the final 10 minutes.
In the fourth, Wake Forest trimmed the lead to 66-55 before the Cowgirls scored the next nine to push the margin to 20.
Mack finished with a game-high 27 points to go with 15 boards, four assists, four blocks and two steals. In the process, she became the 25th Cowgirl to eclipse the 1,000-point mark for her career.
Asberry finished with four 3-pointers on her way to 18 points and freshman Lexy Keys (Cherokee) added 9 points for the Cowgirls off the bench.
OSU advances to the round of 32 now.
