Oklahoma State Cowgirls Set Record, Please Former Players, and Should Be Top 25

STILLWATER – Hey all of you Top 25 voters in the both the Associated Press and the USA TODAY coaches polls for women’s basketball, you need to take notice and vote a different team into your poll for this week. The Oklahoma State Cowgirls have not received as much as a vote in the two polls so far, but after a 70-65 win on the road at No. 17 Baylor last Wednesday and now a home win in front of the former players there for a reunion and tying a school record for made three pointers in a game during the 80-70 win over TCU, it is time to put the Lady Cowpokes in the polls. 

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Hoyt coaching in a time out against TCU.

First-year head coach Jacie Hoyt seems to be doing everything right from her show selections to her welcoming back Cowgirl players from the past to coaching up her potluck team and helping them succeed at a level where many didn’t think they would. Oklahoma State was ninth in the Big 12 Preseason Coaches Poll, but are now sitting with a 13-4 record, 3-2 in Big 12 play and they have split their two games with ranked teams. 

“It was special for us and we had talked about all the way back in the summer, the tradition of this (program) and how we wanted to get it back on track,” Hoyt said. “It was great getting a win in front of them (former players) and honoring them. We did that.”

Oklahoma State jumped out to an early 9-3 lead and a 16-8 advantage after the first quarter, but the first real gut punch play came in the second quarter when leading rebounder and daughter for former Cowboys sixth-man Terry Collins, Taylen Collins blocked a TCU shot and then took off in a straight line for the basket on the other end. Naomie Alnatas jumped to the corner for the rebound and then gunned a pass any quarterback would have been proud of hitting Collins in stride for the lay up finish and Oklahoma State led 23-12. 

Collins would finish with six points but a monster 14 rebounds, two blocked shots, and three assists. 

TCU closed it down to as close as three points, but then Alnatas took a pass from Lexi Keys and dropped a three from the top of the key for a 29-20 Cowgirls lead. Alnatas again before the half hit another three for a 37-29 lead at halftime. 

In the second half Lion Garzon, the native of Israel, who had a visiting group of fellow Hebrew believers there supporting her started dropping threes as well. Garzon contributed 13 points and hit on three-of-six from three-point range. 

“It feels great. It wasn’t the best win, but a win is a win,” Garzon said. “They are from the Jewish community in Tulsa and they support me. They speak my language.”

“Basketball is the reason we are all here and I’m really happy they were all here (to see Lion),” Hoyt added. “She is a great role model.”

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Garzon and the Cowgirls had a school record tying 14 made threes.

Garzon and the consistent scoring of Alnatas as she finished with 24 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals with only one turnover. Alnatas was 8-of-17 from the field and 6-of-12 from three-point range. At one point the Cowgirls lead 70-50 in the fourth quarter.

The Cowgirls shot 45 percent from the field and 50 percent in tying the school record for most made three-pointers in a game with 14. 

For the second game in a row, the Cowgirls were stingy on defense, but let up some in the final minutes. TCU shot 37 percent from the field and only 4-of-17 for 23.5 percent from three-point range. 

“This was the ultimate trap game and I don’t mean any disrespect to TCU. They play hard and they are doing a strong job,” Hoyt said. “Coming off the emotions of the Texas win and the win at Baylor and we didn’t get to bed until about five a.m. after travel complications at Baylor. There was that excuse and we didn’t fall into tht trap. We got a little casual offensively, and I dodn’t remember the last time we had more turnovers than assists. I’ll take the win.”

The Cowgirls get another chance to prove how Top 25 worthy they have become when they travel to play No. 15 Iowa State on Wednesday.