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Breaking press helps Cowgirls advance to second round

STARKVILLE, Ms. - At the end of the game, Oklahoma State women’s basketball coach Jim Littell said with an expressionless look that he wanted his team to punish Syracuse for pressing.

The Cowgirls ability to break the press greatly helped them defeat Syracuse 84-57 on Saturday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

In previous matchups, especially against Big 12 opponents, the Cowgirls (21-10) were not matched with a team using a full-court press for most of the game.

The Orange (22-9) have used the full-court press against all their opponents, and it’s the centerpiece of their defense.