Cowgirls need multiple players to fill Combs’ void

STILLWATER — Areanna Combs’ value to the Oklahoma State women’s basketball team can be measured by statistics, and it can be measured by impact.

Some points here, a few rebounds there, defense everywhere.

With the importance of the 6-foot sophomore being spread to so many categories, replacing her can’t be done by one player.

Following Combs’ knee surgery last Friday that ended her season, OSU coach Jim Littell now finds himself pointing at several Cowgirls to fill the void heading into a big home game against No. 17-ranked West Virginia at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Gallagher-Iba Arena.

Junior Maria Castro, in her first year with the No. 24 Cowgirls as a juniorcollege transfer, has started the last two games in Combs’ absence. Much more will be asked of junior Karli Wheeler and freshman Jaden Hobbs as well.

“It changes the complexion of this team,” Littell said. “You lose your best defender. You lose your best athlete. So you’ve got to find a way to counter that. And it’s not gonna be done by one person. It’s got to be done collectively.

“Kaylee Jensen’s got to get one more offensive rebound and putback. A couple people gotta take charges. We’ve got to have somebody step up and be a defensive stopper.”

True freshman Braxtin Miller knows she might draw some tougher defensive assignments in Combs’ absence. Miller, at 5-foot-10, is long and athletic, with good defensive instincts.

“She was an all-around player,” Miller said of Combs. “It’s a big role that we all have to help to fill.

“I love matchups and trying to shut down the best player. That gives me a lot of satisfaction. It’s really tough without Arie being there, but I think it helps challenge me and everyone else. We just have to get used to remembering that she’s not always there.”

West Virginia forces every player on the floor to play defense. All five Mountaineer starters average more than 10 points per game, and all of them can rebound.

Littell wants to use his bench more, but he needs productivity from those players when they’re on the floor.

Jentry Holt accounted for all eight bench points in last Saturday’s loss at Kansas State. In the three games before, OSU’s bench had combined for five total points.

“When you come in there, you’ve got to play without mistakes and you’ve got to be productive,” Littell said. “It can’t be that we’re just gonna put you in. You’ve got to hit open shots, be able to guard, play without turnovers.”

West Virginia coach Mike Carey leans on his starters even harder than Littell does, with each of the five Mountaineer starters averaging more than 29 minutes per game.

“He’s been playing his starters a lot of major minutes, and we’ve been doing the same,” Littell said. “So I think the difference in the ballgame is which bench can step up.”