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Aggie women survive another scare from OSU

By JEFF LATZKE
Associated Press

STILLWATER, Okla. - Takia Starks hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to help No. 13 Texas A&M survive another scare from Oklahoma State with a 62-60 win Saturday night.

The Cowgirls, who lost on a free throw with the same amount of time remaining in the teams' previous meeting this season, rallied from six points down in the final 3 minutes to tie the game on Maria Cordero's layup with 23 seconds left.

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Buy this photo AP Photo Texas A&M's Danielle Gant shoots over Oklahoma State's Shaunte Smith. Gant had 14 points in A&M's 62-60 win Saturday.

After a timeout, point guard A'Quonesia Franklin dribbled down most of the remaining time before the Aggies (20-5, 10-3 Big 12) had to scramble to get the ball to Starks near the foul line.

Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke then called a timeout to set up a play, but Starks stole a long inbounds pass near the Cowgirls' 3-point line.

Danielle Gant, who hit the winning free throw in the Aggies' 64-63 win over Oklahoma State on Jan. 30, finished with 14 points and 14 rebounds for her sixth double-double. Starks scored 13 and Morenike Atunrase had 10 for Texas A&M.

Freshman Andrea Riley matched her career high with 21 points, Danielle Chism scored 11 and Rashidat Sadiq added 10 for Oklahoma State (17-9, 5-8).

Gant's free throw with 5:36 remaining gave the Aggies a 49-48 lead, and she added a three-point play off an offensive rebound on A&M's next possession to stretch the lead to four.

She made it 56-50 by banking in a right-handed shot from the right side.

Oklahoma State closed to within 57-56 on Andrea Riley's two free throws with 1:36 to play, with Budke flapping both arms in the air to encourage the crowd to stand and cheer, which he also did during Atunrase's missed free throw that gave his team a chance to tie.

Riley's driving layup tied it at 58 with just over a minute to play, but Atunrase answered with a jumper in the key for the Aggies with 44.4 seconds left.

Riley set up Cordero's layup on the other end, but the Aggies had another stunner in store for the Cowgirls.

It was A&M's seventh straight win over the Cowgirls.

Oklahoma State fell to 0-6 this season against ranked foes.

Oklahoma State held the Aggies without a basket for more than 6 minutes in the first half, scoring nine straight points to take a 15-9 lead on Sadiq's 3-pointer from the right wing.

Texas A&M scored seven points in a row to claim a 26-23 lead on a basket by La Toya Micheaux. The game was tied at 28 at halftime.