by NORMAN, Okla. — In its third contest against a ranked opponent in its last four outings, Oklahoma State’s women’s basketball team came up just short of logging its second win over a ranked opponent with a 97-93 loss against No. 15 Oklahoma in front of 9,580 fans inside Lloyd Noble Center.
Both high-powered offenses got off to slow starts, combining to hit just two of the first 11 shots taken in the contest. Despite opening just two of nine from the floor, the Cowgirls were able to stay within a possession, trailing 8-5 at the halfway point of the first quarter.
The Sooners extended their margin to 17-8 before Lior Garzon buried a trey to pull OSU within six with two minutes left in the period.
Despite shooting 28 percent in the floor, OSU trailed by just four at 19-15 through the first 10 minutes.
Two minutes into the second quarter, Anna Gret Asi drilled a trey and Kassidy De Lapp got a steal and layup to put the Cowgirls in front, 24-23. However, OU answered with a three-point play on its next possession to move back in front.
The Sooners hit seven of eight shots during one stretch, but the Cowgirls got a 3-pointer from Lexy Keys to stay within a possession at 39-36.
Asi buried OSU’s seventh 3-pointer of the half with 90 seconds left to tie the score. The sophomore added a free throw and Trinitee Jackson got a board and putback to give OSU a 42-39 lead with less than a minute to go in the half. Terryn Milton buried a halfcourt shot to wrap up a 12-1 run for the Cowgirls and five them 48-40 lead at the break.
Asi added another triple with 20 seconds to go to finish the half 13 points.
OSU opened with the first four points of the second half to push the margin to double figures at 52-40. The Sooners responded with a 6-0 run to cut the margin in half before adding a 3-point play at the 6:43 mark and a pair of free throws on their next trip to get within one at 54-53.
The Cowgirls would get back-to-back treys from Asi and Keys to grow the lead to eight with four minutes to go. OSU would take a 72-68 lead into the final frame.
The Sooners got back-to-back treys to cut the OSU lead to one before Claire Chastain finished a 3-point play with seven minutes to go to extend the margin back to 80-76. OU would answer with a steal and layup to get within one at 82-81.
OU moved in front on a layup after the final media timeout before Garzon knocked down a pair of free throws to put the Cowgirls back in front. However, the Sooners drilled a 3-pointer on their next trip to jump back on top before a free throw and another trey made it a 9-0 run and a 92-84 lead.
Asi hit her seventh 3-pointer of the game with 36 seconds left to cut the deficit to 92-90.
After scoring a career-high 15 points during the midweek at Iowa State, Asi poured in a game-high 26 on Saturday.
