Dec. 18, 2003
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Trisha Skibbe scored 12 points in overtime to lead the Oklahoma State women's basketball team to a 91-87 win against Santa Clara tonight at the Leavey Center. Skibbe finished with a career-high 34 points and added a game-high 13 rebounds to mark the Cowgirls' fourth straight victory and improve their record to 5-3 on the season. The Broncos had five players reach double figures, led by freshmen Ashley Graham's 20, but drop their third straight contest and see their record fall to 3-6 overall.
Santa Clara led 73-70 heading into the final 28 seconds of regulation, but Oklahoma had the ball. Cowgirl Nina Stone missed a three pointer from the left wing with eight seconds on the clock, but Lori Allen grabbed the rebound and launched her shot. After the game, both coaches agreed that she was inside the three-point arc, but the referees called the shot a trey, sending the game into overtime. Oklahoma State took control in the extra period, and made all 10 attempts from the charity stripe to seal the four-point victory.
"The referee saw what she saw, but nevertheless, we had an opportunity to win the ball game after that," SCU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said.
With junior All-WCC guard Quinn Thomas out due to injury, the Broncos started four freshmen but played like veterans, leading by 11 at halftime. The team committed only six fouls and eight turnovers, while netting seven steals and making all eight free throw attempts for the period. Red-shirt freshman Tori Markey came off the bench for 10 points, as SCU led 40-29 at intermission.
Oklahoma State slowly chipped away at its deficit, and earned its first lead-since early in the first half-with two free throws by Brittany Dietz, 66-65 with 3:55 remaining. Markey, who finished with a career-high 17 points, hit back-to-back lay-ups to put Santa Clara ahead 71-66, with 1:40 on the clock. The Broncos missed their remaining two attempts, while senior Jennie Rondel made two free throws. Skibbe netted two free throws and a basket to set up her team's comeback.
Graham hit six three-pointers, including two in overtime. Rondel, who fouled out in the extra period, finished with 14 points, while senior Whitney Sutak and freshman Anna Martin scored 13 apiece. Oklahoma State also saw a double-double from Christian Hood, who posted 15 points and 11 rebounds in just 19 minutes of action. Allen finished with 12 points.
The game marked the Bronco program's 18th overall overtime contest. Santa Clara is 9-9 in extra-period games, and 4-4 at home. Additionally, it was the first meeting for these two programs.
Santa Clara is 0-5 at home and will search for its first victory at the Leavey Center on Sunday, when the Broncos host Bay Area rival San Jose State at 2 p.m. After the holiday break, Santa Clara will host Alabama on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 2 p.m. to close a four-game homestand.
