OSU Cowgirls Advance in WNIT Tourney

Oklahoma State’s Toni Young put up 34 points and 18 rebounds to help defeat the Pepperdine Waves and advance in the WNIT Tournament.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:16 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Mar 16, 2011 10:22 PM CDT

Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- Oklahoma State’s Toni Young hoisted her team on her shoulders Wednesday night in the team’s first game of the WNIT tournament, leading the Cowgirls to a 80-74 win over the Pepperdine Waves.

Track Oklahoma State’s progress in the WNIT Tournament Bracket.

Young scored 17 of her 34 total points in the first half, and remained OSU’s only player in double digits until Kendra Suttles hit a layup, bringing her to 10 points on the night. Young hit 15 of her 21 shots from the field, and four of her eight free throws. She crashed the boards for the Cowgirls too, racking up 18 rebounds to easily earn her 14th double-double on the season.

The Cowgirls were first on the board, but the Waves quickly gained the lead, extending it to eight within the first few minutes of play. The game went back-and-forth in the first half, with the Waves’ Katie Menton scoring exactly half of Pepperdine’s 42 points, hitting four of her five 3-point attempts. The junior finished with a team-high 29 points and six rebounds. The game saw five lead changes, with the Waves putting constant pressure on the Cowgirls, who lead the majority of the second half.

Pepperdine enjoyed a brief, 30-second lead in the first minutes on the second half, but Oklahoma State quickly regained it and held it for the remainder of the contest.

The OSU Cowgirls will next face the Wyoming Cowgirls on March 21 at 7 p.m.