Monday, March 22, 2021
Cunningham’s college career likely over after loss to Oregon State Chris Becker Cade Cunningham caught the ball at the top of the key as time ticked away in Oklahoma State’s Round of 32 matchup with Oregon State. He air mailed a 3-point shot — not the way one would’ve imagined his season ending, but that was the final shot out of his hands. The Cowboys 80-70 loss to the Beavers marks what most likely will be Cunningham’s final game to don the Cowboys name on his jersey, as he is projected to be the top pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. “(The journey) it’s been special, I think that’s the best way to describe it,” Cunningham said. “I think the biggest thing is I surrounded myself with great people, more than anything that’s the thing I’m most proud of.” Cunningham didn’t have to come to Stillwater, in fact before he got to campus, due to NCAA rules, he could’ve transferred after the Cowboys were hit with NCAA penalties. But he stayed true to his original commitment, and it
all paid off. “I think it was more than worth it,” Cunningham said.
“Like I said I was around the right people. I just can’t thank them enough.
But he stayed. The freshman phenom was everything he was marketed as and pos-
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Waking up against Wake Forest Ben Hutchens
Rod Aydelotte Oklahoma State forward Natasha Mack, right, shoots over Baylor center Queen Egbo, left, in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game.
The Cowgirl basketball offense woke up on Sunday afternoon. Oklahoma State defeated Wake Forest 84-61 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on the strength of its shooting. The Cowgirls shot 53.8% from the field and knocked down nearly 40% of their 3-point attempts. As has been the case the entire season, OSU forward Natasha Mack was the one boosting statistics all across the board. Mack, who is making her final push with the Cowgirls before the WNBA draft finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks and 2 steals. “She came to
play and was virtually unstoppable. She wasn’t worried about double teams; she was going to score before the double team got to her,” OSU coach Jim Littell said. The Demon Deacons couldn’t keep up with the offensive surge the Cowgirls had in the second quarter. OSU had 27 points in the frame, making 11-19 shots and 4-7 3-pointers. It was the big momentum shifter in the game, as the Cowgirls turned a tied game into one they led by 13. “I thought the second quarter was as good as we’ve played all season long, both on the offensive end and defensive end. We knocked a lot of balls loose, we disrupted what they were doing offensively and that was one of the better quarters we’ve had,” Littell said. See Waking on pg. 6