Beavers Set for Puerto Rican Thanksgiving
November 25, 2015 | Women's Basketball
THE GAME: The No. 7/7 Oregon State women's basketball team (3-0) heads to Puerto Rico this week for the San Juan Shootout. The Beavers will take on Hofstra (4-0) at 9:15 a.m. PT on Friday, and will follow that up by facing Arkansas (2-2) at 11:30 a.m. PT on Saturday.
FOLLOW ALONG: Both of this week's games will feature live streaming video via OSUBeavers.com. Fans can find live audio online at osubeavers.com or on the Beaver Radio Network with Jay Reese.
WHAT'S COMING UP: Following this week's trip to Puerto Rico, the Beavers will head to Wisconsin for a Dec. 3 road game against Marquette, which will air on Fox Sports 1. Oregon State's next home game will be Dec. 12 against Idaho. The Beavers will follow that up with their Beavers Beyond the Classroom game on Dec. 15, before hosting their marquee matchup with Tennessee on Dec. 19.
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.
SERIES HISTORIES: The Beavers have never played Hofstra, but do hold a 1-1 all-time record against Arkansas. Oregon State won the last meeting between the two sides, outscoring the Razorbacks 69-56 at the Junkanoo Jam (Bahamas) in 2008. Oddly, both of the Beavers' previous games against Arkansas have also been played on November 28.
GREAT START:
- Oregon State has opened the season with a trio of convincing victories, and has been rewarded with a move up the rankings, moving up to No. 7 in both the AP and USA Today/WBCA Coaches Polls, matching the highest ranking in school history. The Beavers started the season ranked No. 9 by the coaches and No. 10 by the AP.
- The Beavers have started the season 3-0 for the third-straight season.
- The Beavers have placed at least four players in double-figures in all three games this season, and have played every active player in each game. OSU had six players with 10+ points in the season-opener against Longwood, a feat it accomplished three times last season.
- Oregon State has been dominant so far this season, holding the sixth-highest scoring margin in the nation at 43.3 points.
- The Beavers lead the nation in field goal percentage and rebounding margin, shooting 57.1 percent and pulling down 27 more rebounds than their opponents.
- Oregon State is allowing opponents to shoot just 30.6 percent from the floor, and is fourth in the nation in defensive rebounds.
- The Beavers have seen a big jump in their free-throw percentage early in the season, shooting 84.6 percent (ninth in the nation) from the charity stripe through the first three games, compared to 68.3 percent last year.
OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS:
- The Beavers have had at least one player score 20+ points in five consecutive games.
- 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.
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.
DISHIN' AND SWISHIN': Sydney Wiese Quick Hitters
- Scored 22 points against UC Riverside on Sunday, knocking down 5-of-6 3-pointers and setting a career-high with nine rebounds.
- Is tied for the team lead with 20 rebounds on the year.
- Is shooting 66.7 percent from 3-point range, good for ninth in the nation.
- 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 (214) and 3-point percentage (42.9).
- Is the NCAA's active leader in 3-point percentage (42.9 percent)
- Is closing in on the Pac-12's top-10 list for career 3-pointers, needing 23 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.
SWISH SISTER: Jamie Weisner Quick Hitters
- Is shooting 67.7 percent from the floor, good for ninth in the nation and third in the Pac-12.
- Is a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.
- Scored 20+ points in back-to-back games to open the season, netting 24 against Longwood and 22 vs. Portland.
- Has scored 20+ in three of her last four games.
- Is second in school history with 184 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 300
- 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, leading Breanna Stewart (292).
- Has 17 career double-doubles, placing her among OSU's all-time top-10.
- Hamblin currently sits at 900 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.
THE HUNTER: Deven Hunter Quick Hitters
- Has started 71 consecutive games dating back to her freshman season.
- Is sixth in school history with 709 career rebounds.
- Has recorded at least one assist in 21 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.
THE GIFT OF GABBY: Gabriella Hanson Quick Hitters
- Has scored in double-figures in back-to-back games, putting up 14 points against Portland and 12 against UC Riverside.
- Is second on the team with 11 assists and leads the Beavers with five steals.
- 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 Nov. 16, 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 10 of her 13 shot attempts so far this season, and is averaging 7.7 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 Nov. 16, hitting four of her five field-goal attempts. Overall, Brown is shooting 77.8 percent (7-for-9) 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
- 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 seven 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 hit 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.
FORTRESS GILL:
- Oregon State is 30-3 in its last 33 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 34.6 percent at Gill Coliseum since the start of the 2014-15 season, compared to a robust 47.7 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.
BEAVS OVERSEAS: 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.
