By Dick Allen
The much anticipated rematch between the # 7 seeded FGCU Eagles and the 10th seeded Oklahoma State Cowgirls is finally ready to tip off. Ever since last Monday’s announcement of the matchups, expectations have been building. Not only with the team members and the coaching staff but with the fans who traveled to West Lafayette, Indiana last year and had their hearts broken by the same Oklahoma State girls.
Hope springs eternal, and there was not a single fan who doesn’t believe that the FGCU women were the better team that day and should have won the game in regulation. The Eagles lost in overtime and Oklahoma State took on playing Purdue University on their home floor with a trip to the sweet 16 at stake. What hurts even more, was that the Cowgirls beat Purdue and we’re making that trip to the sweet 16 to face Notre Dame. “It should have been us”, said season ticket holder from day one Bill Kuzbyt who has traveled to every Atlantic Sun and NCAA tournament game FGCU has ever played.
Now it’s our turn. We get a rematch with the winner again likely to face the # 2 seeded FSU on their home court where they have not lost a single game this year. And the prize is a birth in the sweet 16. Sound familiar?
Basketball junkies know that the keys to winning a basketball game are really simple. You win the first 5 minutes of each half and you’ll probably win the game, so bring it on!
Let’s get ready to rumble!
At center court their six foot three girl and our six foot three girl are poised for the tip off. But unlike last year Oklahoma State wins the tip off. In just 16 seconds State scored on a layup and took the early lead 2-0. After a missed 3 Point try by Knight, the Cowgirls turned over the ball and with just 55 seconds off the clock Knight launched a second 3 point try – this one was good and FGCU had the lead by one.
Exchanging missed shots Oklahoma State scored on a layup giving back the lead to the Cowgirls 4 – 3. 11 seconds later Knight struck again on a layup giving the lead back to FGCU 5 – 4. That was the last time Oklahoma State saw the lead until the 3:38 mark left in the first half. FGCU had safely won the first five minutes. But suddenly the Cowgirls had the lead 29 – 28. A minute later Dunson drained a 3 pointer putting the Eagles up to stay for good. At the half it was 36 – 31 FGCU. Kenisha Atwater led the Eagles in scoring with 13, while the team shot a brisk 40.6% while holding Oklahoma State to 37.5% with each team taking 32 shots.
In the first 5 minutes of the second half FGCU outscored Oklahoma State 10 to 8. Hopefully those basketball junkies are right. We had won the first 5 minutes of the first half and now we just won the first 5 minutes of the second half. The lead continued to grow to 10 with 9:55 remaining in the game. The fans were getting their just reward for their faithfulness. They became more enthusiastic and the noise level became unbearable as the lead grew to17 at the 4:37 making its 71- 54. Pandemonium was setting in and the realization of winning their first game in the NCAA tournament was in their grasp.
Then it happened. Over the next 4:21 FGCU didn’t score a single point. They missed three pointers, foul shots, and several blown layups added to the mix were turnovers and founds all putting Oklahoma State within striking distance with 16 seconds remaining. Two free throws by Atwater stopped the bleeding at 73 – 64. But before you could take a breath Oklahoma State hit a three point basket with 9 seconds remaining. Everybody knew the Cowgirls were going to foul us and we were only 6 for 12 from the charity stripe for the game.
After back to back timeouts it only took Oklahoma State 2 seconds to foul Stephanie Hass.
Their coaching staff picked the right player to foul. Haas was 2 out of 5 for the game and had just missed the rim on her last foul shot. So Stephanie, just like last year, strapping her teammates on her back …. she buried the first shot and was all net on the second .
Fgcu 76 – 67!
I think I hear the fat lady singing as Coach sent in the reserves for the final 7 seconds. These were the girls that had made up the scout team and had worked so hard all week, make that all year, preparing the starters for what they were going to see and what plays FGCU was going to run. Coach rewarded their efforts by getting them all in the box score in their first NCAA appearance. Cattani, Payne, Murrell, Laughter, and Moore, all valuable parts in this historic team victory. All names that you’ll get to know and love.
How sweet it is!