Beavers Set to Battle Buffs on Sunday

THE GAME: The Oregon State women's basketball team looks to remain at the top of the Pac-12 Conference Sunday, when it plays host to Colorado at Gill Coliseum. The game will tip off at 3 p.m.

FOLLOW ALONG: Sunday's game will air live on Pac-12 Oregon and Pac-12 Mountain, with Ann Schatz and Joan Bonvicini on the call. The matchup will also air live on the Beaver Radio Network with Ron Callan. Live stats will be available at OSUBeavers.com.

TICKETS: Tickets for all Oregon State women's basketball games can be purchased at BeaverTickets.com.

WHAT'S COMING UP: Oregon State will head to Eugene next Friday to take on Oregon in the Civil War presented by PacificSource Health Plans, Spirit Mountain Casino, Safeway/Albertsons and Your Local Toyota Dealers. The Beavers will host the Ducks next Sunday on ESPNU.

SERIES HISTORY: Oregon State is 5-6 all-time vs. Colorado, and 4-4 against the Buffaloes under head coach Scott Rueck. The Beavers won both of the teams' matchups last season, and have won three of the four games contested at Gill Coliseum.

QUICK HITTERS:
- At 17-2, Oregon State currently has a better record than it did on Jan. 22 of last season, when the team was 14-3. The Beavers' best ever record through this point in the season came in 2014-15, when OSU started 16-1.
- OSU is one of three Pac-12 teams with only one loss in conference play, joining Washington and Stanford.
- Oregon State has not lost back-to-back games since it fell to USC and UCLA on Jan. 17 and 20 of 2014.
- Oregon State's senior class of Sydney Wiese, Gabriella Hanson, Kolbie Orum and Breanna Brown (redshirt junior) has an .813 winning percentage in their three-plus seasons with the team (100-23).
- This year's seniors are looking to become the first class in program history to make the NCAA Tournament all four years of their careers.
- The Beavers are 38-5 in Pac-12 play over the last three seasons, and 47-5 in their last 52 Pac-12 games.
- OSU is 74-11 over the course of the last three regular seasons, and 84-21 overall since the start of the 2014-15 campaign.
- Oregon State sits fifth in the nation in field goal percentage defense at 33.3 percent. That statistic has been a consistent foundation for the Beavers, who have held opponents to 33.5 percent shooting over the last three seasons.
- The Beavers commit the sixth-fewest fouls per game of any team in the nation, averaging 12.9.
- Oregon State has posted a better shooting percentage than its opponent in all 19 of its games this season.
- The Beavers have held opponents below 35 percent shooting in 39 of their last 57 games
- OSU has out-rebounded 17 of its 19 opponents this season, and has held the advantage on the boards in 15-straight games.
- Oregon State finished the month of December 9-0, winning every game in the month of December for the fifth time in school history. The Beavers also ended the year's final month without a loss in 2008 (6-0), 1998 (5-0), 1995 (6-0) and 1978 (3-0).
- The Beavers' freshman class is the highest rated in program history, tabbed at No. 12 in the nation.
- Oregon State has one of the tallest teams in the Pac-12, featuring nine players listed at 6-foot or above. UCLA is the only Pac-12 squad to have more 6-footers, checking in with 10.
- The Beavers' 2016-17 squad has much more balance between classes than the 2015-16 OSU team. Oregon State enters the season with four seniors, two juniors, two sophomores and five freshmen (by eligibility)
- This year's team is the first team to have more freshmen players (by eligibility) than any other class since Scott Rueck took over as head coach in 2010-11.

AT THE POLLS:
- Oregon State comes in at No. 11 in this week's AP Poll and No. 12 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll.
- OSU has been ranked in every coaches' poll since the end of the 2013-14 season.
- The Beavers were picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 in both the league's coaches and media poll.
- Oregon State is No. 8 in the RPI, as of Saturday.

FORTRESS GILL:
- Oregon State has a home record of 39-4 over the last three seasons.
- The Beavers have not lost back-to-back home games since falling to Washington and Washington State on Feb. 15 and 18, 2013.
- Oregon State has won 13-straight Pac-12 home games, dating back to Feb. 26, 2015 vs. Stanford.
- Opponents are shooting 32.5 percent at Gill Coliseum since the start of the 2013-14 season
- With an average of 3,426 fans per game, Oregon State currently leads the Pac-12 in attendance for the third-straight season. The Beavers are over 500 fans per game ahead of second-place Stanford.

DISHIN' AND SWISHIN': Sydney Wiese Quick Hitters
- Wiese broke the Pac-12 career 3-pointers record on Dec. 20, passing Candice Wiggins to move into first place. Wiese is now up to 323 career longballs, and needs 15 more to crack the top 25 in NCAA Division I history.
- Wiese leads all active players in career longballs, sitting five ahead of Ohio State's Kelsey Mitchell. Wiese and Mitchell have been trading the lead over the course of the 2016-17 season.
- Scored 26 points, including 13 in overtime, and pulled down five rebounds in the Beavers' win over Stanford. Wiese played 47 minutes in the game.
- Is one of 36 players in Pac-12 history to make the All-Pac-12 First Team three times. Should she make the all-conference team again this season, Wiese would become just the 13th player in conference history, and second player in Oregon State history (Tanja Kostic - 1993-96) to earn All-Pac-12 honors all four years.
- Has earned tournament MVP honors at both the Maui Classic and the #Play4Kay Shootout
- Made the Pac-12 All-Tournament and Dallas All-Region Teams last season.
- Ranked No. 16 in ESPNW's Preseason Top-25 Players list.
- Was named to the Wooden Award Mid-Season Top-25 last Wednesday.
- On the Naismith Trophy, Wade Trophy, and Lieberman Award Watch Lists.
- Preseason All-Pac-12 honoree for the second-straight season.
- Currently sits eighth in Oregon State history with 1,567 career points, good for 26th nationally among active players.
- Is second in Oregon State history with 551 career assists, and fifth in the nation among active players
- Has hit at least two 3-pointers in 14-straight games.
- Has 456 career rebounds, 420 of which have come on the defensive end
- Tallied the fourth triple-double in Oregon State history on Dec. 14, finishing with 27 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists vs. UC Davis
- Has made the Pac-12 All-Academic Team the last two seasons, and hopes to begin a career in broadcasting once her playing career comes to an end.

GIFT OF GABBY: Gabriella Hanson Quick Hitters
- Is known as one of the best defenders in the conference, earning Pac-12 Defensive Honorable Mention last season.
- Has played in 100 Oregon State victories, the most by any player in OSU history
- Held Washington standout Kelsey Plum to 8-for-23 shooting from the floor in the Beavers' matchup with Washington.
- Set a season-high with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting at UCLA.
- Is eighth in Oregon State history with 115 career 3-pointers.
- Has averaged over 20 minutes per game all four years of her career.
- Has played in 67-straight games, dating back to her sophomore campaign. Hanson has only missed one game in her career, with that coming due to injury.

GREAT SCOTT: Scott Rueck Quick Hitters
- Was one of four finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year last season (Geno Auriemma - UConn, Muffet McGraw - Notre Dame, Dawn Staley - South Carolina).
- Finished second to Auriemma in the AP National Coach of the Year voting.
- Record improved to 139-78 with the Beavers' win over Utah, and is the second-winningest coach in Oregon State history. Aki Hill holds the Oregon State wins record with 274.
- Rueck engineered an accelerated turnaround at Oregon State, bringing the program into national prominence during his six seasons as head coach.
- Prior to joining Oregon State, Rueck served as head coach at George Fox in Newburg, Ore., where he built the program into a Division III national power, winning an NCAA title in 2009.
- Graduated from Oregon State in 1991.
- Rueck's teams have consistently been known for outstanding defense. The Beavers have allowed 56.7 points per game over the course of his tenure. George Fox allowed just 48.3 points per contest in 2009-10, Rueck's final year there, and set a school record with 45.4 points allowed under Rueck in 2007-08.

WHAT CAN BROWN DO FOR YOU: Breanna Brown Quick Hitters
- Has posted the first two double-doubles of her career this season, including one against Stanford two weeks ago. Brown has fouled out in both of her double-double performances.
- Made the Maui Classic All-Tournament Team
- Has started 10-straight games, the first 10 starts of her career.
- Matched a career-high with 14 points against California, including 12 points in the third quarter.
- Sits fifth in the Pac-12 in field goal percentage at .546
- Has scored in double-figures eight times this season. Entering the year, Brown had only been in double-figures once.
- Has tallied four blocks in a game five times this season. Her career-high entering the year was two rejections
- Is fourth in the Pac-12 with 2.00 blocks per game this season
- Won back-to-back California State championships in 2012 and 2013 as a member of Bishop O'Dowd High School (Oakland, Calif.).

GERMAN SENSATION: Marie Gulich Quick Hitters
- Has tallied three-straight double-doubles, bringing her career total to five double-doubles.
- Is second in the Pac-12 with 2.11 blocks per game
- Is averaging 10.9 points per game, second only to Sydney Wiese on the Beavers.
- Is among the Pac-12's top-10 in rebounds per game (8.3)
- Has at least at least six rebounds in 14-straight contests.
- Is the only Oregon State player to play in all 88 games over the last three seasons.
- Has played with both the German U-18 and U-20 National Teams.

OFF THE FLOOR:
- The women's basketball team won the annual Oregon State Athletics "Other Side" Talent Show in October. The team performed a dance and singing routine set to music by Beyonce.
- Oregon State helped decorate the Boys and Girls Club for the holidays in December.
- The Beavers have partnered with SouthSide Youth Outreach in Corvallis in order to help reach out to underprivileged youth.
- Sydney Wiese has been named one of 30 candidates for the Senior CLASS Award. Oregon State's Ruth Hamblin earned Senior CLASS All-America honors last season.

PIVEC AND ROLL: Mikayla Pivec Quick Hitters
- Set a career-high with 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting against California.
- Hit an important reverse-layup in the second overtime period of the Beavers' win over Stanford.
- Earned #Play4Kay Shootout All-Tournament honors
- Has started the last 10 games.
- Is averaging 11.0 points per game in her 10 starts.
- Is among the Beavers top-5 players in rebounds (93), assists (48) and steals (15).
- Rueck has compared her rebounding from the guard position to Beaver great Jamie Weisner
- Has at least four rebounds in 12-straight games.
- Highest-rated signee in Oregon State history, coming in as the No. 24 player in the nation according to ESPN.
- Max Preps National Female Athlere of the Year
- Averaged 21.7 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 4.1 assists in high school.

OPEN ORUM: Kolbie Orum Quick Hitters
- Started the first nine games of the season
- Matched a career-high with 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds vs. USC on Sunday.
- Has 12 steals this season, after entering the season with seven steals in her first three campaigns combined.
- Is already having her best career rebounding season with 99.
- Has eight multi-assist games this season.
- Played for the Canadian National Team at the FIBA U17 and U16 World Championships.

KT-MAC ATTACK: Katie McWilliams Quick Hitters
- Played 20 minutes vs. USC on Sunday, her highest total since Dec. 30, and followed tha up by playing 21 minutes on Friday.
- Has hit 14 of her last 26 shots.
- Pac-12 Freshman Honorable Mention in 2015-16.
- Is one of six Beavers, and the only OSU freshman to play in all 37 games last season.
- Went 3-for-3 from 3-point range against UConn in the Final Four.
- Started the first nine games of the season for Oregon State
- Has converted 26 2-point baskets this season, already doubling her total of 13 in 2015-16.
- Her 11 offensive rebounds this season has already surpassed her total of four in 2015-16.
- Was the highest ranked recruit in Oregon State history, prior to Mikayla Pivec joining the team in the 2016 recruiting class.
- 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.

GET SOME TUDOR-ING: Kat Tudor Quick Hitters
- Her 3-point percentage of .432 would be good for 27th in the NCAA, if Tudor had reached the NCAA threshold of two made 3-pointers per game.
- Joins Mikayla Pivec as the only Beaver freshmen to play in every game this season.
- Made 371 three-pointers in her high-school career
- Helped St. Mary's High School win the 2015 California state title

REMAIN KALMER: Taylor Kalmer Quick Hitters
- Has played in back-to-back games, after not seeing the floor for four-straight contests.
- Scored nine points on 4-for-5 shooting vs. the Trojans on Sunday, and followed that up with eight points vs. Utah on Friday.
- Missed the first four games of the season due to injury
- Named Oregon State's Most Improved Player at the team's 2016 Awards Banquet.
- Was named a Scholar Athlete all four years of high school.

THROPAY AS YOU GO: Janessa Thropay Quick Hitters
- Missed the last eight games due to injury
- Sang the national anthem prior to both the men's and women's basketball games on Friday Dec. 30.
- McDonalds All-America nominee her senior season of high school
- First-Team All-California in high school
- Earned MVP honors at the All-Star Classic

GETTING MADDIE: Madison Washington Quick Hitters
- Missed Friday's game with injury
- Set a career-high with five points vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- USA Today First Team All-Nevada selection
- Helped Bishop Gorman High School reach the Nevada state title game three times
- Averaged 12.2 points and 8.0 rebounds per game her senior season

ALWAYS GREENER: Tarea Green Quick Hitters
- Scored her first career points and pulled down her first career rebound vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
- Has seen the floor in five games, after red-shirting the 2015-16 season.
- Holds Hillsboro High School records for points and rebounds in a season.
- Born in Corvallis, Ore.

THE STAFF: Oregon State Assistant Coaches and Support Staff Quick Hitters
- Associate Head Coach Jonas Chatterton enters his third season with the Beavers after spending four seasons at Colorado.
- Associate Head Coach Brian Holsinger served as an assistant coach on the Washington State staff for eight seasons.
- Assistant Coach Katie Baker was an All-Big Sky honoree at Montana
- Eric Ely takes over a new role this season as Assistant Athletic Director for Women's Basketball. Ely has been with the team since Rueck took over as head coach, spending the last six seasons as an assistant coach
- Director of Operations Sharon Rissmiller is in her second season with the Beavers. She has served as the head coach at Pacific (Ore.) and played basketball at Portland
- Assistant to the Head Coach Kendall Knotz served as a manger for Oregon State for four seasons before taking on her new role this year
- Athletic Trainer Jason Lieuw is the longest serving member of the Oregon State staff, currently in his eighth year with the team

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Players Mentioned

Breanna Brown

Tarea Green

Ruth Hamblin

Gabriella Hanson

Taylor Kalmer

Katie McWilliams

Kolbie Orum

Mikayla Pivec

Janessa Thropay

Kat Tudor

Madison Washington

Jamie Weisner

Sydney Wiese