KU senior Taylor McIntosh (13) fends off Oklahoma State's Shyvon Spears, left, and Taylor Hardeman. KU fell to the Cowgirls, 59-54, on Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse.

To understand how good Oklahoma State guard Andrea Riley was against the Kansas University women’s basketball team Wednesday night, just listen to the player responsible for guarding her nearly every second of the game.

“She’s probably one of the best players I’ve ever faced,” KU point guard Ivana Catic said. “She can pass you at any time because she’s so quick. Just a great player.”

Flattery well deserved.

Riley scored 26 points, including three clutch baskets down the stretch, to help the Cowgirls come back from a poor start and knock off the Jayhawks, 59-54, in the Big 12 opener for both teams.

“I think the kid’s fantastic,” KU head coach Bonnie Henrickson said after watching Riley shoot 11-of-18 while playing all 40 minutes. “Last year, you could get off her and make her use the left hand, and you can’t do that anymore.”

For a time, however, it looked as though neither Riley nor any other OSU player would score. KU opened up an 11-0 lead to start the game behind seven points from Sade Morris and seemed poised to knock off the 25th-ranked Cowgirls.

But OSU (13-1) went on a run of its own, particularly when KU’s leading scorer, Danielle McCray, went to the bench at the 11:23 mark of the first half with two fouls. A 16-3 spurt to end the half was capped by a Danielle Green three-pointer that gave the Cowgirls a 24-23 halftime lead.

McCray’s layup to open the second half gave KU (11-3) its last lead.

Then, the 5-foot-5 Riley took over with a method of play that OSU head coach Kurt Budke called “unguardable.”

There were two three-pointers, three pull-up jumpers and a wicked crossover in the lane that led to an easy layup for OSU center Maria Cordero with 37 seconds left. In all, the Big 12’s leading scorer made seven of her nine shot attempts in the second half.

“There aren’t many girls in the country, unless they’re on some track team somewhere, that have Riley’s speed,” Henrickson said.

Despite Riley’s heroics, KU still had a chance to tie with 10 seconds left. Trailing 57-54, McCray came off a double screen but misfired from three at the top of the key. Cordero then sealed the game for OSU with two free throws.

Morris led KU with 17 points, and Taylor McIntosh added 14. McCray finished with nine. KU played without guard Kelly Kohn, who was out with an ankle sprain.

Even in defeat, the Jayhawks – which held OSU 26 points below its season scoring average – did plenty to impress Budke.

“I don’t think there’s any question they’re an NCAA Tournament team,” Budke said.

KU travels to Nebraska on Saturday to resume its Big 12 season.