Wednesday night’s Big 12 Conference opener against Oklahoma State couldn’t have started any better for Kansas. After five minutes, coach Bonnie Henrickson’s team held a surprising 11-0 advantage against No. 25 Oklahoma State.

The lead didn’t last for long. Led by sophomore guard Andrea Riley’s 26 points, Oklahoma State clawed back to escape Allen Fieldhouse with a gritty 59-55 victory and spoil Kansas’ previously untarnished home record.

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Kansas Women's Basketball vs. Oklahoma State

Photo gallery of Kansas women's basketball game against Oklahoma State.

Despite limiting the nation’s second leading scoring team to 26 points below its season average, the Jayhawks couldn’t contain Riley, the Big 12 Conference’s leading scorer, down the stretch. The 5-foot-5 point guard scored six of Oklahoma State’s last 12 points and caused problems all night with her athleticism and vision.

“Sometimes it’s not fair,” Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke said. “She’s unguardable.”

Senior guard Ivana Catic drew defensive duties on the lightning quick point guard for much of the game. Catic and Henrickson both said the improvements Riley, last year’s Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year, made during the off-season were noticeable.

"She is one of the best players that I have ever faced,” Catic said. “Last year when we played her in the Big 12 Tournament we forced her left and gave her a couple steps. This year we couldn't do that.”

After falling behind 11-0, Riley and the Cowgirls slowly began chipping away at the deficit. When freshman center Krysten Boogaard and sophomore guard Danielle McCray found themselves on the bench with two fouls with just more than 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Oklahoma State began asserting itself on both ends.

Down 16-6, Budke made the switch to a 2-3 zone defense with the 6-foot-5 Boogaard on the bench. The decision immediately paid off. Oklahoma State ripped off a 10-0 run of its own, cutting Kansas’ lead to two while Henrickson’s team struggled to find its outside shot.

“We just kind of expected to get open shots on the perimeter, and that obviously didn’t happen,” Catic said. “They knew that once Krysten was out the strength was going to be on the perimeter and they were able to match-up.”

Down 24-23 at half, Kansas led only once the rest of the way after McCray made it 25-24 with two early free-throws. Riley was simply too much to handle. The talented sophomore played all 40 minutes and only got stronger as the game wore on, scoring 18 of her 26 points in the second half

Kansas never trailed by more than six points and had a chance to tie with 10 seconds left while trailing 57-54. McCray found herself wide open at the top of the key but her three-point attempt was too strong and Oklahoma State made two free-throws to put the game out of reach.

Sophomore guard Sade Morris led Kansas with 17 points and six rebounds while senior forward Taylor McIntosh finished with 14 points and seven rebounds. Morris said Kansas’ inability to respond to Oklahoma State’s run to end the first half was the turning point in the game.

"They just went on a run on us and we didn't exactly answer it at the correct time,” she said. “By the time that we finally answered their run it was too late.”

Henrickson said she was encouraged by her team’s performance but stressed that there is a lot to work on before Saturday’s Big 12 Conference road opener against Nebraska in Lincoln.

“(There were) a lot of good things for us and a lot of things that we will kick ourselves in the pants for when we watch it on film,” Henrickson said. “But what’s most important right now is how we respond and how we play on Saturday.”

Kohn sprains ankle

Sophomore guard Kelly Kohn spent the game in warm-ups with a boot on her right ankle. Henrickson said there was no swelling but that Kohn’s ankle was extremely tender. Kohn is currently listed as day-to-day.

Morris recovering from knee strain

Henrickson said sophomore guard Sade Morris was recovering well and expects she will remove the brace from her knee soon. Morris said she was nearly back to 100 percent.

“I feel fine,” Morris said. “I’m back to my normal self so it’s just about getting myself back into a rhythm.”

Up the intensity

Senior forward Taylor McIntosh said she has warned Kansas’ freshman for weeks about the differences between non-conference and conference play. On Sunday freshmen center Krysten Boogaard and freshman forward Nicollette Smith witnessed firsthand how much more physical and intense the conference season is.

The two must learn to adapt quickly to support McIntosh in the paint. Boogaard spent most of her time on the bench in foul trouble after throwing down Oklahoma State senior center Maria Cordero in retaliation for previous contact.

“I think they learn it’s a lot more physical,” McIntosh said. “You can’t give in to the cheap shots other players do because you’ll be the one that gets called.”

Traveling fans

Oklahoma State brought three busloads of fans to Allen Fieldhouse for Wednesday night’s game. Sections 15 and 16 behind the Cowgirl bench were a sea of orange and black that remained vocal throughout the hard-fought contest.

Oklahoma State coach Kurt Budke, a Kansas native, said he was extremely proud of the support his team received in his home state.