Oregon State
Saint Mary's
Beavers Storm Past Saint Mary's to Advance to WNIT Sweet 16
March 17, 2012 | Women's Basketball
March 17, 2012
Corvallis, Ore. – Senior Earlysia Marchbanks (Salem, Ore.) earned her sixth double-double of the season with 14 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Oregon State women's basketball team (20-12) stormed past Saint Mary's (22-11), 56-41, to advance to the WNIT Sweet 16 on Saturday evening in Gill Coliseum.
“I loved the energy we played with tonight,” head coach Scott Rueck said. “Tonight I thought our assistant coaches gave us a great game plan defensively, Coach Ely and Coach Campbell, in how we guarded their pick and roll play against our zone. That was an adjustment that I thought really changed the game and kept them off balance from the beginning because that is strength of their team. Just loved the energy this team played with tonight.
It was a defensive effort that I am used to. We haven't played like that for a couple of weeks really are what it felt like to me. Tonight was just a fun game. Our team really gelled and played with everything they had. I felt we had a little extra energy tonight that we have been missing. We dictated a lot of possessions tonight and they were on their heels a lot. We were just a little more aggressive then we have been. I was really glad to see that, perfect timing for us and I am really proud of the team.”
Marchbanks added four assists and two steals, while sophomore Alyssa Martin (Portland, Ore.) was the other Oregon State player to reach double-figures with 12, adding five rebounds and three steals.
A balanced attack by Oregon State led by junior Patricia Bright's (Phoenix, Ariz.) early six points gave Oregon State a lead of as many as 15 at the 25-10 mark on an junior Sage Indendi (Livingston, Mont.) jumper. But Saint Mary's went on an 8-0 run to get back within single digits.
It looked as though the 25-18 Oregon State lead would stand heading into the break after a missed jumper by Indendi, but an offensive rebound by Marchbanks and a put back attempt prompted a foul, sending Marchbanks to the line, where she sank both free throw attempts to give the Beavers a nine-point advantage.
The second half continued in similar fashion with Saint Mary's not able to get any closer than 10 points, the last time coming with 2:22 remaining. But as the clock winded down, the Gaels had to foul with Oregon State connecting on 8-of-10 attempts at the line to seal the win.
Saint Mary's Jasmine Smith led the Gaels with 12 points, while Jackie Nared had 11 rebounds.
Oregon State will await the decision of the Washington/Utah game on Sunday to find out where it plays next and at what time.
Oregon State Notes
- The last time Oregon State earned 20 wins was in 2008-09, also the last time the Beavers qualified for the WNIT.
- Freshman Ali Gibson blocked a career-high three shots.
- Oregon State is now 4-2 all-time against Saint Mary's.
- The last time Oregon State reached the WNIT Sweet 16 was in 2004, falling to Creighton on the road, 74-64.
- Oregon State has only advanced to the Sweet 16 once before since the format of 64 teams.
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