OSU comeback falls just short
December 20, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Corvallis, Ore. – Senior Jamie Weisner and junior Sydney Wiese led a brilliant comeback but the Oregon State women's basketball team fell 53-50 to No. 14 Tennessee on Saturday before a Gill Coliseum crowd of 8,223, the second-largest gathering in program history.
"Credit to Tennessee for coming in and playing a very good basketball game," said Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck. "I couldn't be more proud of our team. The first half didn't go the way we would have hoped, but to battle the way we did was unbelievable. That crowd was something you dream about. That was a great day for women's basketball. I think we grew a lot today. I loved the fight and the heart we showed, and we have nothing to hang our heads about."
Wiese, who scored 17 points, and Weisner, who had 16, each scored 12 in the second half, when the No. 7-ranked Beavers (8-1) trimmed a 35-18 halftime deficit to one point three times in the fourth quarter. However, OSU couldn't get over the hump and the Lady Vols (8-3) earned a split on their West Coast road trip.
The Beavers drew within 47-46 with 6:15 left, 49-48 with 4:43 remaining and 51-50 with 3:13 to go after a jumper in the lane by Weisner. They then got a stop defensively, but missed four shots on their ensuing possession, which ended with a turnover with 51 seconds to play.
Tennessee's Diamond DeShields, who missed her first six free throws, made two with 34 seconds to play for a 53-50 lead after being fouled on a drive. OSU then missed two shots in the final 15 seconds, the last one a 3-pointer by Weisner from the left corner with one second remaining.
Weisner also had 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season and the 12th of her career. Senior center Ruth Hamblin added 12 rebounds, six points and three blocked shots.
The Beavers outrebounded Tennessee 48-33, made all six of their free throws and held Tennessee without a 3-point basket.
Tennessee led 17-11 after one quarter and 35-18 at intermission, just the second time this season OSU had trailed at halftime. The Beavers then had the crowd roaring by outscoring Tennessee 22-10 in the third quarter to claw their way back into contention.
OSU finished the week with the second- and fourth-largest crowds in school history, as it drew 7,824 for a 75-51 win over CSU-Bakersfield on Dec. 15. The all-time record is 9,418 vs. Stanford on Jan. 20, 1996.
Several players also moved up on OSU's career top-10 lists.
· Weisner now had 1,267 points and passed Ali Gibson (1,262) for eighth all-time. Next in line is Tina Lelas (1,313).
· Hamblin increased her career scoring total to 973 points. She needs 27 more to become the 20th player in school history with 1,000 or more points.
· Hamblin now has 740 career rebounds; she passed Felicia Ragland (739) for fifth all-time. Next in line is Tiffany Ducker (755).
· Senior Deven Hunter had five rebounds for 734 in her career. She also will pass Ragland for sixth all-time with six more caroms.
The Beavers host Cal Poly of the Big West Conference at 3 p.m. Monday in their final nonconference home game. After a short holiday break, they conclude the nonconference schedule on Dec. 28 with a 4 p.m. game at Notre Dame.
Tickets for Monday's game, and for every other home game, are available at BeaverTickets.com or by calling 800-GOBEAVS.
