LAS VEGAS – March 7th, 2024
There might just be something special about this year's Oregon State women's basketball team.
Trailing by 12 in the fourth quarter and then by five in overtime, the Beavers battled back again and again to knock off no. 18 Colorado 85-79 in the Pac-12 Tournament's first-ever double-overtime game.
"Obviously very happy for our team today. They found a way," said head coach Scott Rueck. "I remember looking up and we were down 11. It didn't feel good and it didn't look good, but this team has found a way all year. Nothing seems to faze this team. They continue to believe, and they just have so much fun competing."
Newly minted All-American Raegan Beers led the Beavs with 27 points and 13 rebounds. It was the second-most points by a Beaver in the Pac-12 Tournament and the most made baskets (12) by an Oregon State player in the tournament.
The sophomore paced a balanced attack with five scoring in double figures. The remaining four – Talia von Oelhoffen, Donovyn Hunter, Dominika Paurovà and Timea Gardiner – all scored 13 points to go with plenty of non-scoring contributions from the group. AJ Marotte had six points with four coming in overtime, steadying OSU.
Gardiner led the comeback effort in the fourth quarter with a team-high seven points in the period. The sophomore also pulled down four rebounds to complete a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards and recorded a gigantic block on a previously-open Quay Miller to give OSU a much-needed stop in the final 10 minutes.
The Pac-12 Sixth Player of the Year's floor-spacing paved the way for Hunter to make an impact in the first overtime. With the Buffalo posts attached to Gardiner, the freshman drove to the basket twice for huge buckets in the extra period, the first pulling OSU back within one and the second putting the Beavs ahead.
Hunter also tied the Oregon State Pac-12 Tournament record for assists in a game with nine, matching Sydney Wiese's effort in 2016 against USC. She had three in the overtime periods.
Trailing by a single point after Jaylyn Sherrod answered Hunter's second layup, Paurovà nailed her second three-pointer of the game to put the Beavers' up a pair. In the second overtime, she got to the rim for two layups, combining with Marotte to put OSU up for good at 74-71.
Talia von Oelhoffen combined with Hunter to put the Buffs away. As Colorado attempted to make Oregon State earn the win at the free throw line, von Oelhoffen came through. A perfect 4-for-4 in the final 33 seconds held the Buffs at bay to earn the victory. The junior's defensive effort was perhaps even more impactful with three steals and two blocks.
As is the case in the loaded Pac-12, Oregon State won't get a breather on Friday in the semifinals. The Beavs battle no. 2 Stanford at 5 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.
