Budke Trying To Build On Cowgirls' Sudden Success

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Kurt Budke had no way of knowing he could take Oklahoma State from zero conference wins to the NCAA tournament in a single season. <br/><br/>He's equally uncertain what to

Friday, November 2nd 2007, 7:43 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) _ Kurt Budke had no way of knowing he could take Oklahoma State from zero conference wins to the NCAA tournament in a single season.

He's equally uncertain what to expect from the Cowgirls after their first brush with success.

Budke endured an 0-16 run through Big 12 play in his first season as the Cowgirls' head coach, then turned the program around by securing its first bid to the NCAA tournament in a decade.

He says despite the 0-16 record, his assistant coaches did an outstanding job recruiting winners to the program.

One of those recruits was point guard Andrea Riley, a speedster from the Dallas area who was last season's Big 12 freshman of the year. She returns as the leader of the nation's most improved team last season, along with backcourt mate Danielle Green (11.7 ppg, 6.1 rpg) and center Maria Cordero (9.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg).