(Oklahoma State University Athletic Media Relations contributed to this story.)
MORGANTOWN, WV – Oklahoma State was on a roll coming off back-to-back wins over No. 16-Texas Tech and then Utah at home. Back on the road at No. 19 West Virginia and well rested the hope was the Cowgirls could polish their NCAA Tournament resume’. They could not as West Virginia, wearing their “pink” home uniforms to honor former NC State coach Kay Yow and the fight against breast cancer, shot the lights out of the basketball. They were 51 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range and they won 72-40.
Gia Cooke scored 21 points and hit five three-pointers, Kierra Wheeler added 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Jordan Harrison was the third Mountaineers in double-digits with 12 points. West Virginia (22-6, 12-4 Big 12) was excellent on defense as well in holding the Cowgirls to 15-of-65 shooting, a season low 23 percent from the field. Oklahoma State was 5-of-26 from beyond the three-point line. They were outrebounded 46-to-37.
Stailee Heard led the Cowgirls with 13 points and was the only player in orange and black in double figures. Oklahoma State falls to 21-8 and 10-6 in Big 12 play.
The Mountaineers started the game on an 8-0 run and were leading by double-digits before the first quarter ended. An 18-2 run in the second quarter that saw the Mountaineers drain the last 12 points of the half put them ahead 49-23. West Virginia scored the first six points of the third quarter, extending the run to 24-2.
It was a complete blowout. Oklahoma State next plays at Iowa State on Wednesday before finishing the Big 12 regular season at home with Kansas on Saturday, Feb. 28.
