Elite Matchup Set for Monday
March 27, 2016 | Women's Basketball
THE GAME: The No. 6/6 Oregon State women's basketball team (31-4) makes its first ever appearance in the Elite Eight Monday, when the Beavers take on No. 4/4 Baylor (36-1) at 6 p.m. PT at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas.
FOLLOW ALONG: The game will be carried live on ESPN. Pam Ward, Carolyn Peck and Steffi Sorensen will have the call. Live audio will also be available with Ron Callan across the Beaver Radio Network, including on KEJO 1240 in Corvallis. Live stats for all games can be found on OSUBeavers.com.
NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY:
- This is the Beavers' eighth NCAA Tournament appearance, and their third-straight season making the Big Dance.
- Oregon State hosted the first two rounds at Gill Coliseum last year for the first time in program history. The Beavers were a 3-seed last season.
- This is Oregon State's first ever Elite Eight appearance. Oregon State's previous best tournament finish was a Sweet 16 appearance in 1983, when the tournament only featured 32 team.
- The Beavers' 2014 NCAA Tournament appearance snapped an 18-year drought. Oregon States' prior tournament appearance came back in 1996.
OREGON STATE QUICK HITTERS:
- Oregon State's 31 wins are a new school record. The previous mark was 27 victories, set last season.
- The Beavers have won 21 of their last 22 games.
- Ruth Hamblin, Jamie Weisner and Sydney Wiese were all named to the Naismith Trophy Early Season Watch List (released Dec. 9). Oregon State is one of three schools in the country to place a trio of players on the list, joining Connecticut and South Carolina.
- Weisner was also named to the Naismith Trophy Midseason 30 on Feb. 10.
- Oregon State is one of three teams in the nation with three 1,000-point scorers (Hamblin, Weisner, Wiese), joining Connecticut and Southern Illinois.
- Oregon State has been dominant in its 31 victories this season, holding one of the highest scoring margins in the nation at 16.5 points.
- The Beavers have controlled the glass this season, leading the nation in defensive rebounds per game (31.9) and sitting sixth in rebounding margin (11.9). California, Utah and Stanford are the only teams to out-rebound Oregon State in a game this year (1/15, 1/22, 2/26).
- Oregon State has also been one of the best shooting teams in the country, hitting 44.0 percent of its field goal attempts and 35.5 percent of its 3-pointers.
- Oregon State has recorded 202 assists on 295 made baskets in its last nine games (68.5 percent).
- The Beavers are 26-0 this season when leading at halftime.
- Jamie Weisner (41.3) and Sydney Wiese (40.7) are the sixth and 10th best 3-point shooters in the nation, in terms of career 3-point percentage.
OREGON STATE DEFENSE:
- The Beavers have held 31 of their 35 opponents to under 40 percent shooting from the floor. Oregon State has also held 14 teams below 30 percent shooting this season.
- Oregon State leads the nation in field goal percentage defense at 31.5 percent.
SWISH SISTER: Jamie Weisner Quick Hitters
- Pac-12 Player of the Year.
- Wade Trophy Watch List
- ESPNW Second-Team All-American.
- Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention
- Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player
- Named to the Naismith Award Midseason 30.
- Is shooting 49.2 percent from the floor, good for seventh in the Pac-12, and the highest percentage among guards in the conference by seven percent (Nirra Fields - 42.2 percent).
- Is the sixth in Oregon State history and 35th in Pac-12 history with 1,752 career points.
- Her 17.6 points per game is good for fourth in the Pac-12 this season.
- Is second in school history with 250 career 3-pointers, trailing only teammate Sydney Wiese.
- Sixth in the nation in career 3-point percentage, and sits second among players in the Power 5 conferences.
- Eighth in Oregon State history in career rebounds.
- Scored 38 points Saturday vs. DePaul, the highest total by a Beaver since 2008
DISHIN' AND SWISHIN': Sydney Wiese Quick Hitters
- All-Pac-12 for the third-straight season.
- Is one of 36 Pac-12 players to earn All-Conference honors three times in her career, and the third Beaver to do so (Felicia Ragland, Tanja Kostic).
- Pac-12 All-Tournament Team.
- Already sits atop the Oregon State career record book in 3-pointers made (266) and is second in 3-point percentage (40.7).
- Is currently eighth in Pac-12 history for career 3-pointers. Candice Wiggins (Stanford, 2005-08) owns the conference record with 295.
- Is 10th in the NCAA in career 3-point percentage among active players, and has the fifth-best percentage among players in the Power-5 conferences.
CANADIAN HAMMER: Ruth Hamblin quick hitters
- Was named one of 10 finalists for the Senior CLASS Award
- Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for the second-straight season.
- Has earned All-Pac-12 honors two-straight years.
- Academic All-America First Team
- AP Third-Team All-American last year.
- Pac-12 record-holder with 415 career blocks, and cracked the NCAA's top-10 on Saturday.
- Hamblin is the NCAA's active leader in career blocks, leading Breanna Stewart (408).
- Has at least one block in 33-straight games
- Is the Oregon State record holder with 1,005 career rebounds.
- Is averaging 15.2 rebounds per contest over her last seven games, and 15.8 rebounds per game over her last four.
- Ninth in Oregon State history with 1,282 career points.
- Tied the Oregon State single-game record with 20 rebounds in the Pac-12 Championship game.
THE GIFT OF GABBY: Gabriella Hanson Quick Hitters
- Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention
- 10th in Oregon State history with 98 career 3-pointers.
- Set a career high with five steals Saturday vs. DePaul
- Played lock-down defense on Washington standout Kelsey Plum in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, helping hold her to a season-low 14 points on 4-for-19 shooting.
- Made her first career start in the season-opener after serving as the team's “sixth player” last year.
THE HUNTER: Deven Hunter Quick Hitters
- Has started 103 consecutive games dating back to her freshman season.
- Has played in all 133 of Oregon State's games over the last four years, making 130 starts.
- Posted the best game of her collegiate career vs. Stanford on Jan. 19, scoring 19 points and pulling down 12 rebounds.
- Is fourth in Oregon State history and 32nd in Pac-12 history with 885 career rebounds.
- Pulled down 12 rebounds in the Pac-12 title game vs. UCLA.
KT-MAC ATTACK: Katie McWilliams Quick Hitters
- Is one of six Beavers, and the only OSU freshman to play in all 35 games this season.
- Played at least 30 minutes in all eight games junior Sydney Wiese missed due to injury, averaging 34.2 minutes during that stretch.
- Is averaging 3.4 assists per game when in the starting lineup.
- Knocked down her first career shot attempt, hitting a 3-pointer less than 30 seconds after stepping onto the floor in her collegiate debut.
- 21 of her 34 baskets this season have come from 3-point range.
- Is the only active Oregon State player without a double-digit scoring game in her career.
GERMAN SENSATION: Marie Gulich Quick Hitters
- Shot 9-for-11 from the floor during the first three rounds of the Tournament.
- Is averaging 11.3 points and 11.1 rebounds per 40 minutes this season.
- Has played in all 35 games.
I AM SAM: Samantha Siegner Quick Hitters
- Has missed just two games over the course of her career, and has played all 35 games this season.
- Has played every position except point guard over the course of her career.
- Played a season-high 24 minutes against Oregon on Jan. 10.
QUEEN OF THE HILL: Jen'Von'Ta Hill Quick Hitters
- Has a record of 128-11 over the course of her collegiate career, going 71-2 in two seasons at Hutchinson Community College and 57-9 in her time with the Beavers.
WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Breanna Brown Quick Hitters
- Has made the most of her playing time this year, averaging 16.2 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.6 blocks per 40 minutes on the floor.
- Made her return to the Oregon State lineup this season after redshirting the 2014-15 season.
STAY KALMER: Taylor Kalmer Quick Hitters
- Has seen time in five of the Beavers' last eight games.
- Matched a career-high with 10 points Feb. 19 vs. USC
GOLD ORUM: Kolbie Orum Quick Hitters
- Is 12-for-15 from the floor in her last seven appearances, and has hit her last five shots.
- Scored 10 points in the season-opener against Longwood.
GREAT SCOTT: Scott Rueck Quick Hitters
- One of four finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year Award, joining Geno Auriemma (Connecticut), Muffet McGraw (Notre Dame) and Dawn Staley (South Carolina).
- Has earned Pac-12 Media Coach of the Year honors three times in his six seasons as head coach.
- Is already the third-winningest coach in school history, earning his 100th career win Jan. 2 at USC.
- 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.
- Graduated from Oregon State in 1991.
