Oklahoma State Women ‘Remember the 4,’ Beat Missouri State
The Oklahoma State Women held a ‘Remember the 4’ ceremony and marked the 10th anniversary of the loss of four OSU coaches and supporters on Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the Cowgirls (2-1) defeated Missouri State, 44-40. The Cowgirls had to rally a bit, outscoring Missouri State 12-2 in the third quarter to get back into the game, and then take the lead in the fourth quarter. Taylen Collins had a double-double, with 16 points, 11 rebounds, along with one steal.
The game marked the anniversary of the passing of former head coach Kurt Budke, assistant coach Miranda Serna and two OSU women’s basketball supporters in Olin and Paula Branstetter.
The four of them died in a plane crash on Nov. 17, 2011, while on a recruiting trip in Arkansas.
Budke, who led Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Texas, to four NJCAA national championships, was hired by OSU in 2005 after leading Louisiana Tech from 2002-05 as the immediate replacement to the legendary Leon Barmore.
Budke went to Stillwater and turned them into a respectable program, as he won 112 games and led the Cowgirls to three NCAA Tournaments, including a Sweet 16 berth, and two WNIT berths.
Budke coached in one game in 2011 before he died. Current OSU head coach Jim Littell, an assistant under Budke, replaced Budke and led the Cowgirls to a Women’s NIT championship that season.
The Cowgirls remembered the four with special shooting shirts, a moment of celebration, a tribute video at halftime and the first 2,500 fans received rubber wristbands
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
