STILLWATER — After Shaunte Smith drained two free throws with two seconds left to lift the Cowgirls to a win at Texas Tech, Oklahoma State dynamo point guard Andrea Riley gave her teammate the nickname "Miss Clutch.”
Since then, Smith has recorded six double-doubles and has provided intangibles like taking a charging call in the waning seconds of OSU's win over Texas in the Big 12 Tournament semifinals.
"Some kids run and hide late in a game,” said OSU assistant coach Jim Littell. "Shaunte is not afraid to have the ball in her hands. She wants to have a chance to hit the big free throws late. It fits her. She's been clutch all year.”
No one on the OSU's roster appreciates the remarkable turnaround from a 6-22 season two years ago to a No. 3 NCAA Tournament seed more than Smith, a two-time All-Stater at Putnam City North.
A 6-foot junior forward who committed during her junior year in high school, Smith knew OSU was in a rebuilding phase. But living through an 0-16 conference finish her freshman season was difficult.
Two years later, Smith has played a key role for the No. 13 Cowgirls, who open the NCAA Tournament Saturday night against East Tennessee State in Des Moines, Iowa.
"Every time we need something, and it's not me or Danielle (Green) doing it, it's Shaunte,” Riley said. "She does anything, whether it's two free throws, a stop on defense, a blocked shot. She's clutch. She comes through. She's plays with so much heart.”
Riley, a second-team All-American, is the player who has taken OSU's program to another level. Green, a senior forward, is the other player who receives a lot of attention.
Smith might not get the headlines but she's been productive. In OSU's last 14 games, Smith has averaged a double-double (12.5 points, 10.9 rebounds).
"Shaunte brings energy and passion every night,” Green said. "It never wavers. She's such a hard worker. When I get tired, I look at her and realize I need to work even harder, like she does. She's the heart and soul of this team.”
Smith leads the Cowgirls in rebounding (8.6), is third in scoring (9.3), has started 80 of 91 games in her career and does the dirty work in the paint. Her game is similar to that of former OSU men's standout Ivan McFarlin.
"I never saw (McFarlin) play that much but I know he was known as a blue-collar worker,” Smith said. "That's what I do, too, all the little things. Rebounding is what gets me going. I feel I need to get at least 10 every night.”
Sounds a lot like McFarlin, who former OSU men's coach Eddie Sutton called a warrior. Teammates and coaches have similar respect for Smith, who grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds in a home win over Texas.
"She's one of those young ladies you root for to have success because she does everything right,” said coach Kurt Budke. "She studies (film) harder than anyone else and never complains. She's worked really hard to get where she is.”
Smith has lost nearly 30 pounds since she arrived on campus three years ago. This past off-season she w
