Beavers Return Home to Host Highlanders
November 19, 2015 | Women's Basketball
THE GAME: The No. 7/9 Oregon State women's basketball team (2-0) will return home Sunday for a matchup with Big West opponent UC Riverside (2-0). The game will tip off at 2 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONG: Sunday's game will feature live streaming video via OSUBeavers.com. Fans can find live audio online at osubeavers.com or on the Beaver Radio Network with Ron Callan. Live stats will also be available.
DAM HUNGER: Sunday will be the Dam Hunger game for Oregon State women's basketball, as the Beavers host their annual food drive. Fans who bring two canned food items for donation can purchase a game ticket for $5.
BORN AND RAISED: The Beavers will recognize Samantha Siegner at Sunday's game, as the team continues its Born and Raised series, honoring the players on the squad who were raised in the state of Oregon. Deven Hunter was recognized at the season opener, and Katie McWilliams will be featured against Idaho on Dec. 12.
WHAT'S COMING UP: Sunday's game will be Beaver fans last chance to see the team until Dec. 12, as Oregon State will play its next three games away from home. The Beavers will make a long Thanksgiving road-trip for games in Puerto Rico on Nov. 27-28, before heading to Milwaukee to face Marquette on Dec. 3.
TICKETS: Tickets for every game this season are available at BeaverTickets.com or by calling 800-GOBEAVS. The Beavers' 2015-16 schedule features 15 home games, including marquee matchups against Tennessee, Stanford and Arizona State.
GREAT START:
- Oregon State has opened the season with a pair of convincing victories, and has been rewarded with a move up the rankings, coming in at No. 7 in the USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll this week, tied for the highest ranking in school history. The Beavers also moved up to No. 9 in the Associated Press Poll, after entering the year ranked No. 9 by the coaches and No. 10 by the AP.
- The Beavers have started the season 2-0 for the third-straight season.
- Six Beavers scored in double-figures in the season opener, and five OSU players reached double-digits against Portland on Monday. Oregon State placed six players in double-figures three times last season.
- Oregon State has been dominant so far this season, defeating Longwood 110-45 and Portland 94-50. The Beavers' 54.5-point average margin of victory is the fourth-highest in the nation.
- The Beavers lead the nation in rebounding margin, pulling down 31.5 more rebounds per game than their opponents.
- Oregon State is shooting 57.5 percent on the season (second highest in the nation), compared to 27.5 percent for its opponents.
- The Beavers have seen a big jump in their free-throw percentage early in the season, shooting 85.4 percent from the charity stripe through the first two games, compared to 68.3 percent last year.
FORTRESS GILL:
- Oregon State is 29-3 in its last 32 games at Gill Coliseum, dating back to the start of the 2013-14 season.
- The Beavers have not suffered a regular-season nonconference loss at home since they fell to Notre Dame on Dec. 29, 2013.
- Visiting teams have shot just 33.9 percent at Gill Coliseum since the start of the 2014-15 season, compared to a robust 47.3 percent for the Beavers.
- Oregon State led the Pac-12 in attendance with an average of 4,167 fans per game last season, 4,785 in conference play.
- The Beavers unveiled their first ever Pac-12 Championship banner at Nov. 13's season-opener.
OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS:
- Oregon State is coming off its first ever Pac-12 Conference Championship, having won the regular-season title last season.
- The Beavers were selected as a No. 3 seed in last year's NCAA Tournament and hosted the first two rounds of the tournament at Gill Coliseum. The tournament appearance was the second in as many years for Oregon State.
- Oregon State set a school record with 27 wins in 2014-15, shattering the previous record of 24. The Beavers also notched a 16-2 mark in Pac-12 play.
- After taking on North Carolina and Tennessee in nonconference play last season, Oregon State will again face a challenging slate in 2015-16, with a schedule that features a home game against Tennessee on Dec. 19 and a road matchup with Notre Dame on Dec. 28.
- Oregon State will be in the national spotlight when it takes on Arizona State on Feb. 1, as it makes an appearance on ESPN2 as part of ESPN's Big Monday coverage. The Beavers will be one of 15 women's teams in the nation to make a Big Monday appearance this season.
SWISH SISTER: Jamie Weisner Quick Hitters
- Has score 20+ points in back-to-back games to open the season, netting 24 against Longwood and 22 vs. Portland. Weisner has now gone over 20 points in three-straight games dating back to last season's 24-point performance against Gonzaga.
- Is shooting 76.2 percent from the floor, 66.7 percent from 3-point range and 100 percent from the free-throw line (8-8).
- Is second in school history with 183 career 3-pointers, trailing only teammate Sydney Wiese.
All-Pac-12 honors last season.
- Was All-Pac-12 honorable mention in her freshman and sophomore seasons.
Is among the top-10 scorers in Oregon State history.
- Led the Beavers with 13.7 points per-game last season.
- Was one of the best rebounding guards in the conference a season ago, pulling down 6.2 boards per game.
- Earned ESPNW National Player of the Week honors in January of 2015.
- Brothers Brett (Western Washington) and Michael (Montana) both played college basketball.
CANADIAN HAMMER: Ruth Hamblin quick hitters
- Named a preseason All-American by Lindy's, Athlon and Sporting News
- Made the All-Pac-12 Preseason Team
- Is listed as Lindy's preseason pick for National Defensive Player of the Year.
- Pac-12 Media Player of the Year in 2014-15, and was the conference's consensus Defensive Player of the Year.
- AP Third-Team All-American last year.
- Oregon State's all-time leader in career blocks with 297
- Recorded 122 blocks last year, the second-highest total in school history trailing only her record-setting 2013-14 season. Hamblin finished 2014-15 with more blocked shots than seven Pac-12 teams.
- Hamblin is the NCAA's active leader in career blocks.
- Has 17 career double-doubles, placing her among OSU's all-time top-10.
- Hamblin currently sits at 884 career points and will look to become the 19th player in Oregon State history to surpass the 1,000 career point mark this year.
- Earned Second-Team Academic All-America honors last year, posting a 3.86 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major.
- She was affectionately dubbed “The Canadian Hammer” by former Oregon State men's basketball standout Joe Burton during her freshman season.
- Hamblin is said to have “turned the corner” midway through her sophomore season. After scoring in double figures four times in her first 39 collegiate games, Hamblin has reached double-digits 37 times in her last 56 games, including five 20-point performances.
DISHIN' AND SWISHIN': Sydney Wiese Quick Hitters
- Earned All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive season in 2014-15 and is on this year's All-Pac-12 Preseason Team
- Already sits atop the Oregon State career record book in 3-pointers made (209) and 3-point percentage (42.4).
- Is closing in on the Pac-12's top-10 list for career 3-pointers, needing 28 more to match Bonnie Samuelson (Stanford, 2012-15) for 10th. Candice Wiggins (Stanford, 2005-08)owns the conference record with 295.
- Earned Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team honors last season.
- Scored 23 points and matched a career-high with six 3-pointers against Cal on Feb. 28 to help Oregon State clinch the Pac-12 title.
- Ended last season 13th in the nation in 3-pointers per game.
- Is already closing in on Oregon State's career assists list, needing just 17 more to crack the top-10.
THE HUNTER: Deven Hunter Quick Hitters
- Has started 70 consecutive games dating back to her freshman season.
- Is sixth in school history with 702 career rebounds.
- Has recorded at least one assist in 20 consecutive games, in a streak that dates back to Jan. 11, 2015.
- Finished 2014-15 second on the team with 95 assists, the highest total of any non-guard in the Pac-12.
- Has earned Pac-12 Academic Honorable Mention the last two seasons.
- Hunter's father Bert played nine seasons of minor-league baseball, including two at the AAA level.
- Has made trips to the Dominican Republic the last two summers as part of Beavers WIthout Borders.
ON THE WING: Gabriella Hanson Quick Hitters
- Scored 14 points against Portland, shooting 5-for-12 from the floor.
- Made her first career start in the season-opener after serving as the team's “sixth man” last year.
Is ninth in Oregon State history with a career 3-point percentage of 34.7.
- Was a Pac-12 All-Academic Honorable Mention last season.
GERMAN SENSATION: Marie Gulich Quick Hitters
- Notched her first career double-double against Portland on Monday, scoring 10 points and pulling down 10 rebounds in just 14 minutes of playing time.
- Pac-12 Freshman Honorable Mention last season.
- Played the best game of her freshman year at Oregon, scoring 10 points on 4-for-8 shooting, including a pair of impressive 3-point plays.
- Has played with both the German U-18 and U-20 National Teams.
I AM SAM: Samantha Siegner Quick Hitters
- Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team selection the last two seasons.
- Hit a critical basket against Arizona State last season, knocking down a 12-footer as the shot-clock expired with 30 seconds remaining in the game.
- Played alongside Deven Hunter with Oregon Elite Basketball Club.
- Was a McDonalds All-America nominee in high school.
- Part of an athletic family, father played football at Linfield; grandfather, Ed Vetter, played baseball at Oregon; and uncle, Mitch Siegner, played football at Oregon.
GOLD ORUM: Kolbie Orum Quick Hitters
- Has converted eight of her nine shot attempts so far this season, and is averaging 9.0 points per game.
- Scored 10 points in the season-opener against Longwood.
- Recorded back-to-back double-digit scoring games against Utah State and Corban last season.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Breanna Brown Quick Hitters
- Set a career-high with 12 points against Portland on Monday, hitting four of her five field-goal attempts. Overall, Brown is shooting 75 percent (6-for-8) on the season.
- Made her return to the Oregon State lineup this season after redshirting the 2014-15 season.
- Finished 11th in the Pac-12 in blocks per-game (0.93) in her freshman campaign, despite averaging just eight minutes per contest.
- Shot 51.8 percent in her freshman year.
- Won back-to-back California State championships in 2012 and 2013 as a member of Bishop O'Dowd High School (Oakland, Calif.).
KT-MAC ATTACK: Katie McWilliams Quick Hitters
- Played a team-high 27 minutes against Portland on Monday.
- Knocked down her first career shot attempt, hitting a 3-pointer less than 30 seconds after stepping onto the floor in her collegiate debut.
- Earned numerous awards in the state of Oregon during her high school career, including: two All-State honors, Oregon Live Girls Basketball Player of the Year, Oregon Sports Award for Best Prep Basketball Player and Gatorade Oregon Player of the Year.
- Made the honor roll all four years of high school.
- Earned a five-star rating while at South Salem High School.
STAY KALMER: Taylor Kalmer Quick Hitters
- Scored seven points on 3-for-8 shooting in her collegiate debut.
- Averaged 18.7 points per game in her senior season at Corona del Sol High School.
McDonalds All-America nominee
- Rated the nation's No. 31 point guard in the 2014 recruiting class by ESPN.
ALWAYS GREENER: Tarea Green Quick Hitters
- Redshirting in 2015-16
- Holds Hillsboro High School records for points and rebounds in a season.
- Born in Corvallis, Ore.
CAPTAINING THE SHIP: Scott Rueck Quick Hitters
- Consensus Pac-12 Coach of the Year last season, after leading the Beavers to their first ever Pac-12 title.
- Earned WBCA Region 8 Coach of the Year honors for the second consecutive year last season.
- Has earned Pac-12 Media Coach of the Year honors three times in his five seasons as head coach.
- Has coached 18 All-Pac-12 selections in his time with Oregon State.
- Is already the third-winningest coach in school history, and sits just eight wins short of 100 in his Oregon State career.
- Has been the architect of an accelerated turnaround in the OSU women's basketball program, bringing the team to national prominence in just five years.
- Has led the Beavers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the schools first since 1996.
- Prior to joining the Oregon State program in 2010, Rueck built George Fox University women's basketball into a national power at the Division III level, leading the Bruins to a national title in 2009 with a perfect 32-0 record. In his 14 years at George Fox, Rueck's teams went 288-88, won seven conference titles and made three Elite-Eight appearances.
- Was inducted into the George Fox Hall of Fame in 2010.
- Graduated from Oregon State in 1991.
THE STAFF: Oregon State Assistant Coaches and Support Staff Quick Hitters
- Assistant Coach Jonas Chatterton enters his second season with the Beavers after spending four seasons at Colorado.
- Assistant Coach Mandy Close led the Beavers to three postseason appearances as a player from 2003-06. Close converted one of the most notable shots in Oregon State history, going coast-to-coast to convert the game-winning layup in the 2006 Civil War.
- Assistant Coach Eric Ely played internationally in France and Brazil, earning all-star status in Brazil in 1984 and 1985.
- Director of Operations Sharon Rissmiller joins the Beavers this season, after spending the last seven seasons as head coach at Pacific (Ore.).
- Director of Player Personnel Liz Clark played under Rueck at George Fox from 2001-05. Clark captained the 2005 Bruins team to an NCAA Division III Elite Eight appearance in 2005, and, along with Rueck, was part of the 2004-05 squad that was inducted into the George Fox Hall of Fame this summer.
ITALIAN SUMMER:
- Oregon State took part in an international tour of Italy this summer, heading to Europe to enjoy the history of the nation, while also getting the opportunity to play four games against Italian opposition.
- The Beavers went 4-0 in their games in Italy, recording wins over Civitanova Marche Basket, AD Basket Femminile Le Mura, Umana Reyer Venezia and Eldelweiss Fassi Albino.
- Over the course of the trip, the Beavers also got enjoy numerous once-in-a-lifetime experiences, including touring the Roman Colosseum, visiting the Vatican, viewing the Statue of David and spending an afternoon on scenic Lake Como.
- For an in-depth look at the Beavers' overseas trip, visit the Italy Central tab on the women's basketball page of OSUBeavers.com.
BEAVERS AROUND THE GLOBE: Oregon State on the International Stage
- Coach Rueck was part of the coaching staff for Team USA at this summer's Pan-American Games in Toronto. Rueck helped the Red, White and Blue win silver.
- With Team USA, Rueck coached Pac-12 players Sophie Brunner (Arizona State) and Kelsey Plum (Washington).
- Sydney Wiese made her Team USA debut this summer, earning a spot on the roster for the World University Games.
- Wiese's best international performance to date came against Japan in the quarterfinal round, when she went 5-for-6 and scored 13 points.
- Ruth Hamblin joined Wiese at the World University Games, earning a spot on the roster for Team Canada.
- Hamblin's best game of the event came against Russia in the semifinals, when she finished with 14 points and seven rebounds.
- Wiese and Hamblin went head-to-head in the WUG Championship Game, with Wiese and Team USA taking the gold.
- Jamie Weisner played exhibition games in Spain with the Canadian Senior Women's National Team in 2015. She was also a member of the Development National Team that played six exhibition games in China averaging 20 minutes and 12.4 points per game.
