Oregon State
Arizona
Well-Rounded Beavers Top Wildcats 73-55
January 24, 2015 | Women's Basketball
TUCSON, Ariz. - Three players scored in double-figures and 10 players got on the scoresheet for the No. 8/9 Oregon State women's basketball team, as the Beavers defeated Arizona 73-55 Friday evening in Tucson.
The victory extends the best start in school history, as the Beavers move to 17-1 on the season, and extends Oregon State's unbeaten run in Pac-12 play, as it moves to 7-0 in conference play.
Senior Ali Gibson led the way with 12 points, hitting two three-pointers, and going 5-for-6 from the field in the contest. Junior Ruth Hamblin filled the stat sheet yet again, coming up with 10 points, seven rebounds and six blocks.
“This was a tough game,” said Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck. “I loved the poise we showed in the second half. I think we got into a rhythm offensively and we played our game. I was really happy to see that. When we play like that, we're a hard team to beat. Overall I just think this was a team win.”
After trailing early in the first half, the Beavers took a six-point lead into the break, and outscored the Wildcats 35-23 in the second half to take the victory.
Sophomore Gabriella Hanson scored 10 points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting. Junior Deven Hunter scored nine points, dished out five assists and pulled down 10 boards, her second-straight game with double-digit rebounds. Sophomore Sydney Wiese finished with nine points and a game-high six assists.
Oregon State shot 52.6 percent in the contest, including 57.1 percent in the second half, marking the fifth time this season the Beavers have shot over 50 percent. On the other side, OSU held Arizona to 37.1 percent shooting, 33.3 percent in the closing frame. The Beavers also outscored the Wildcats 36-22 in the paint, and held a 26-19 advantage in bench points.
The Wildcats got off to a strong start, leading by as many as six and taking a 15-10 lead into the second media timeout. The Beavers came back strong, as Samantha Siegner hit a three-pointer and Jen'Von'Ta Hill followed that up with a three-point play to give the Beavers a 16-15 lead. The teams would trade punches from there, before Oregon State was able to create a little separation, taking a 38-32 lead into the intermission.
Hamblin led the Beavers with eight first half points, as nine different OSU players got on the scoresheet in the opening frame.
Oregon State got off to a hot start in the second half, as Weisner and Gibson hit back-to-back layups to extend the lead to double-figures. The Beavers would remain in control from there, leading by as many as 18 before taking the victory by that margin.
The win sets up a clash of the Pac-12's two top teams on Sunday, as the Beavers will go head-to-head with No. 11/12 Arizona State. The Sun Devils also hold a 7-0 mark in Pac-12 play. The game is slated to tip off at 1 p.m. PT in Tempe, and will be carried live on Pac-12 Networks.
Game Notes:
- Oregon State improved the best start in school history, moving to 17-1
- The Beavers also matched the best start to conference play in school history at 7-0
- Jamie Weisner finished with seven points, bringing her career total to 941
- Ruth Hamblin notched six blocks, extending her career record to 239
- Sydney Wiese hit three 3-pointers, moving her within 165 of the school record. Gibson has 159 career long balls (4th all-time) and Weisner has 144, as she moved within six of fifth all-time
- Oregon State shot over 50 percent for the fifth time this season
- All 10 Beavers scored in the contest.
