Only three of CORVALLISO Oregon State’s nonconference women’s basketball games are played at home this season.
The yearly Field Trip game, in which primary and middle school kids from the Willamette Valley transform Gill Coliseum into a classroom for the day, was one event it continued. When the Beavers defeated Grambling State 63-56 on Tuesday morning, around 7,000 students and staff were present to yell, sing, and dance.
As the crowd was announced as 7,881, Oregon State (3-5) shared some of the game’s highlights and tense moments with kids and some of the regular fans. Additionally, the Beavers created history when Oregon State coach Scott Rueck won his 300th game.
The Beavers used the traditional method to win their second straight game. For the first time since their victory over South Alabama on December 15, 2004, Oregon State failed to make a three-pointer.
The Beavers were led by 13 points from AJ Marotte, 12 from Kelsey Rees, and 11 from Tiara Bolden. It wasn’t easy, as Pacific closed the gap to 55-51 with 2:30 remaining, allowing Oregon State to waste a 15-point advantage in the third quarter.
The Beavers’ dominant interior presence helped them make up for 19 mistakes against GSU’s pressure and 0-of-13 three-point shooting. Sela Rees had eleven rebounds, and Heide had twelve. The 6-foot-7 Heide blocked eight of OSU’s ten shots.
Blocks are impossible to foresee, but you can close the rim. We did it today, for the most part, Rueck remarked.
On Tuesday morning at Gill Coliseum, grade and middle school kids across the Willamette Valley participate in Oregon State women’s basketball’s yearly Field Trip game.Maasdam, Karl
Halfway through the first quarter, Oregon State took the lead and didn’t let it go. The Beavers settled for a 29–20 halftime lead after leading by as many as 15 points in the first half. After OSU restored a 15-point lead with the opening six points of the third quarter, the Tigers (2-5) gradually reduced the margin to four points with 2:31 remaining. After a technical foul and two personal fouls in a 15-second period, OSU was able to extend their lead to eight points, which was sufficient to defeat Grambling State.
The Tigers were led by 14 points from Kahia Warmsley.
When the Beavers play their West Coast Conference opener at Pacific on Thursday, Oregon State will take a little break from nonconference action. OSU will play its first-ever WCC game at 6 p.m.
Having played nonconference games against No. 2 Connecticut, No. 21 Illinois, Minnesota, and Illinois, the Beavers are battle-tested. According to the WCC preseason survey, Pacific (4-4) was predicted to place fifth, one spot behind Oregon State.
It marks Oregon State’s first league game since the women’s basketball program began in 1976. In order to accommodate the Beavers’ mid-December trip to play in the Maui Classic, the game was rescheduled for December 5.
With seven new players on the roster, are the Beavers prepared? OSU shouldn’t be shocked, at the very least. Some of the top collegiate basketball players have already faced them. On Tuesday, they witnessed speed and pressure in addition to size and talent.
Rueck remarked, “I feel like we’re learning and growing minute by minute.”
On Tuesday morning at Gill Coliseum, grade and middle school kids across the Willamette Valley participate in Oregon State women’s basketball’s yearly Field Trip game.Maasdam, Karl
Defense has improved the greatest compared to the Beavers’ first eight games. The opponents’ three-point shooting percentage is 30.7%. Four out of eighteen shots from behind the arc were made by Grambling State.
Rueck claimed that the team had a deer-in-the-headlights mentality in the first half versus UConn, but they recovered and continued to play after the break.
“That game taught us that we can compete with a top team,” Rueck remarked.
Due to a strong finish, the Beavers’ victory over Boston College on November 27 (54–49) was a positive step. The Beavers attempted to bounce back after a poor second half in which they committed 13 turnovers on Tuesday.
This is how every game will be. Helping this team develop is a challenge, but it’s an enjoyable one, Rueck added.
The Beavers’ three-point shooting is one area of Oregon State’s game that offers cause for optimism. Eight games have been terrible, with OSU shooting 21% (34 of 162) from beyond the arc.
OSU has been inefficient from three points, so Rueck joked that’s one area where he’d like to see some inconsistency. The roster will need some time to become accustomed to each other and the offense, he said.
It is clear that this team is a better shooting team than they have shown in games. There have undoubtedly been times when we have taken down some significant ones. However, we’ve had trouble generally, Rueck added. I’m kind of holding out for a breakthrough, but I know it will come eventually.
The contact information for Nick Daschel is 360-607-4824, [email protected], or @nickdaschel.
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