Des Moines, Iowa ? Andrea Riley sank a free throw with 0.7 seconds left in overtime to give Oklahoma State a 73-72 victory over a gritty Florida State team Monday night in the second round of the New Orleans Regional.
The back-and-forth game appeared headed to a second overtime when Riley was trapped 18 feet from the basket with time about to run out. She went up for what would have been an awkward shot and official Teresa Dahlem whistled a foul on Florida State’s Shante Williams just as the buzzer sounded.
The officials then checked the TV monitor and put 0.7 seconds on the clock. Riley, who had missed two free throws on her previous trip to the line, bricked the first one but nailed the second, then intercepted Florida State’s long inbounds pass, allowing the Cowgirls to escape.
So, two years after going 0-16 in the Big 12, Oklahoma State is in the Round of 16. The third-seeded Cowgirls (27-7) will play No. 2 seed LSU in the regional semifinals next Saturday.
Danielle Green led Oklahoma State with 23 points and Riley scored 21, though she shot just 8-for-25.
Pittsburgh 67, Baylor 59
Albuquerque, N.M. – Shavonte Zellous scored 19 points and grabbed a key late rebound to lead the No. 6 seed Panthers.
Pitt (24-10) is in a regional semifinal for the first time in school history. Baylor (25-7) lost in the second round for the second year in a row and the difference turned out to be Zellous and Marcedes Walker.
Texas A&M 63, Hartford 39
Baton Rouge, La. – Danielle Gant scored 21 points on 9-of-11 shooting to lead Texas A&M to a dominant victory over Hartford. Morenike Atunrase, playing in her home state of Louisiana, added 13 points to help the Aggies (28-7) win their 11th straight game.
Rutgers 69, Iowa State 58
Des Moines, Iowa – Rutgers survived a hostile environment and a fiesty effort from Iowa State to return to the round of 16. Kia Vaughn scored 23 points to lead four players in double figures.
