STILLWATER, Okla.—It’s just a guess, but freshman Kristin Hernandez might have trouble routinely matching the performance she had Friday night during her Oklahoma State debut.
The 5-foot-9 guard from Duncanville, Texas, came off the bench to score 25 points and lead Oklahoma State to an 89-49 romp over Air Force in the season opener for both basketball teams.
Hernandez went 9 of 10 from the field—missing only a layup attempt—and 4-for-4 from 3-point range. Her point total was the best by an Oklahoma State player making her debut since at least 1989, and maybe longer than that, Oklahoma State athletic department spokesman Ryan Cameron said.
The last Oklahoma State freshman to score at least 25 points in any game was Jennifer Crow, who had 25 in a win over Nicholls State on Dec. 15, 1996.
“That’s really impressive for a freshman,” Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke said. “I can’t think of a freshman who’s popped out in (her first) major college game and put 25 on the board. I don’t think she forced a shot all night long.
“Maybe she can average 25 all year.”
Hernandez’s teammate, Maria Cordero, offered a similar tounge-in-cheek suggestion, causing Hernandez to roll her eyes, although she had a good one-liner of her own: “I guess you could say I’m trying to set the tone.”
That was something lacking early in the game for Oklahoma State. Coming off its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1996, the Cowgirls entered with high expectations, having been picked by coaches in the preseason to finish fifth in the deep and talented Big 12. Oklahoma State, which went 20-11 last season, received votes in the preseason Top 25 poll.
Air Force, conversely, returned two starters off a team that finished 6-23 last season and won just one of 16 Mountain West Conference games.
Still, the Falcons were able to take advantage of a sluggish start by the Cowgirls. Air Force led 14-9 eight minutes into the game, but went more than 5 1/2 minutes without scoring. Oklahoma State scored 11 straight points to go up 20-14.
A 3-pointer by Air Force’s Raimee Beck and a traditional 3-point play by Brooke Cultra tied the game at 20-20, but the Cowgirls outscored the Falcons 18-9 over the final 5:39 of the half and led 38-29 at halftime. Hernandez had seven points during that run.
The Falcons still trailed by nine points, 43-34, with 15:57 left, but Hernandez keyed a 29-7 Oklahoma State spurt with two traditional 3-point plays and two 3-pointers. A layup by point guard Andrea Riley gave the Cowgirls a 72-41 bulge with 6:54 left.
Oklahoma State eventually extended its lead to 40 points.
“I wasn’t crazy about the first half tonight, but it didn’t surprise me,” Budke said. “I knew (Air Force) had some veterans out there, and we’re still trying to figure ourselves out on what we do well and what we don’t do well and who can play and who can’t play.
“I thought we didn’t quit. I thought the second half was much more efficient. We took better shots.”
Hernandez credited her teammates for her big night, especially Riley, who had eight assists and a career-high six steals to go with 19 points.
“She sees the floor better than any point guard I’ve ever played with,” Hernandez said of last season’s Big 12 freshman of the year.
Cordero had 17 points and nine rebounds and Shaunte Smith added 14 rebounds as the Cowgirls posted a 51-30 edge on the boards.
The Cowgirls extended their home winning streak against nonconference opponents to 16 games, while Air Force fell to 0-8 all-time against teams now in the Big 12 Conference.
Beck scored 13 points to lead Air Force. Alecia Steele—a senior who played in high school at Millwood in Oklahoma City—added 12 points and a team-high eight rebounds for the Falcons, who committed 26 turnovers.
“We’re going to win a lot of games if we force people into 26 turnovers like that,” Budke said.
Air Force shot 33.3 percent from the field.
