Bears, Griner, visit OSU

Nearing the final stretch of the regular season, the Oklahoma State Cowgirls are in desperate need of a signature victory to add to their NCAA Tournament resume.  

The Cowgirls (13-8, 5-7) will get their opportunity Wednesday night when they host the top-ranked Baylor Lady Bears.  

OSU coach Jim Littell said he would like to see his team be more consistent on both ends of the floor.

"We need to concentrate on improving every possession," Littell said.  "We need to execute a lot better than what we have done."

This is the second meeting between OSU and Baylor. When the two teams met in Waco on Jan. 11, the Lady Bears led 26-24 at halftime.

But Baylor exploded in the second half, making 16-of-28 shots, and won 71-44.

"We learned that you have got to play for 40 minutes against a team of that caliber," Littell said.  "In the second half, they turned it up too. A lot of people don't realize that they are loaded at every position

"They showed why they are very deserving of their No. 1 ranking."

Prior to the teams' previous meeting, Littell said the Lady Bears had the best player in the country in Brittney Griner.  With Baylor (25-0, 12-0) remaining undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country, Littell reaffirmed that belief.

"I do not think there is any question that (Griner) is the best," Littell said.  "I think she is the Lew Alcindor of the female game with how much she has revolutionized the women's game."

Cowgirls have hit a bit of a rough stretch recently, losing four of their last five games.  For a young team with NCAA Tournament aspirations, a win against the No. 1 team would not only be the pinnacle of their season, but also a key in the development of this young team.

"A win like that would make our season," Littell said.  "We are looking for our young players to take a step in the right direction and get some consistency in our game."