Pac-10 play has begun for the OSU women and in three games it has become evident how tough the conference really is.
The Beavers exit their second week of conference play 1-2 in conference (7-6 overall). The opening game of the Pac-10 season pitted Oregon State against rival Oregon (2-1, 8-6) at Gill Coliseum.
Duck guard Taylor Lilley took control early draining shots from all over the court and using her speed to drive past the OSU defense on her way to 21 points and a 76-72 UO victory.
Next up on the schedule was the University of Arizona (0-4, 6-9). The undermanned Wildcats entered Gill Coliseum with only six players suited up, due to injury, academic and personal issues. Lack of depth did not play an issue for Arizona until late in the game.
The first half belonged to the Wildcats and guard Ashley Whisonant who scored 11 of her 34 points in the first half giving Arizona the 39-27 lead at half.
“We were back on our heels,” head coach LaVonda Wagner said. “We weren’t executing our shots, and we didn’t have any rhythm or energy, which is something we need to work on. Coming into the game we were comfortable and prepared.”
With 14:21 left in regulation Beaver guard Ashley Allen hit a three from the corner after having a contact lens knocked out, to bring OSU with in seven.
On the following possession guard Arizona’s Marie McGee fouled Brittney Davis, fouling out of the game and leaving U of A with only five eligible players. Mere seconds later the game got weird. With Arizona holding a 63-60 lead Tasha Dickey was called for a charge fouling out of the game leaving only four players on the court for the Wildcats.
Playing five-on-four the Beavers inched their way back into the game on a three by Allen from the corner tying the game at 63. Both teams exchanged buckets before with the game tied at 65, OSU guard Mercedes Fox Griffin had a layup blocked by Arizona’s Beatrice Bofia sending the game to overtime.
Whisonant began the first overtime continuing what she had been doing all game by speeding to the basket for layin’s. After Arizona’s Amina Njonkou missed two free throws with 11 seconds, Davis went to the line draining both shots to tie the game at 78 prompting a second overtime.
“Their point guard kept us on our toes the entire night,” Wagner said. “We were finally able to slow her down when we put Brittney Davis on her.”
The Wildcats entered overtime number two with four players, three of which had four fouls. With an extra defender the Beavers double-teamed Whisonant for the early parts of the period. With 2:28 left Njonkou was called for a charge for her fifth foul bringing the total of eligible players to three. A minute later Davis scored back-to-back layup’s to tie the game at 87. Arizona struggled to get the ball down the court before Whisonant also fouled out leaving two Wildcats on the floor.
Playing five-on-two the Beavers were able to cement a victory as Arizona even struggled to get the ball inbounds. Davis and Allen lead OSU with 30 and 29 in the 94-88 victory.
“It was a win, but it was an ugly win that we probably were not worthy of,” Allen said. “We need to use this as a learning experience. We have to make sure we go in and play and execute our offense.”
Using the Arizona game as a wakeup call, OSU was set to take on No. 24 Arizona State (4-0, 10-5) in which from the opening tip looked to be fast paced and physical. The opening tip led to a mad scramble on the floor in which no team gained possession. The referees called for a re-tip, this time between 5’7” Fox-Griffin and 5’5” Arizona State guard Reagan Pariseau.
The tip was won by the Sun Devils who traveled on the opening possession leading to a bucket at the other end of the court by Davis. OSU went on a run early in the game taking their lead to as much as 11 in the first half.
With the Sun Devils struggling to hit shots, Mitchell was a force in the middle getting extended minutes in her second game in a row. With 8:33 left in the half Mitchell grabbed at the ball after an ASU offensive rebound, causing a jump ball with the possession to OSU.
“Alex brings size to us and she needs to be able to be on the floor and be able to guard posts in the Pac-10 because there are so many good posts players in the Pac-10,” Wagner said. “She has been able to get around defensively and get some rebounds for us, which is really important. I was really proud of the way she played tonight.”
It was at 13:36 in the second half, when Arizona State began to turn things around as Pariseau blew past the defense delivering the ball to Lauren Lacey for an easy two. The Oregon State possession, which followed, ended with a steal by Diamond that led to another Lacey basket reducing the margin to four.
ASU took the lead with 7:22 remaining and never looked back, finally allowing Pariseau to dribble out a 69-60 victory. Allen led the way against ASU with a 22-point showing while Mitchell led all players with seven boards.
“The first half really felt good,” Allen said. “We were playing as a team and playing hard and everything was going our way. The second half, they came out and played like a top 25 team and did what they needed to do to fight back and get the victory.”
The Beavers head to the Bay Area this week meeting No. 2 Stanford on Thursday and Cal on Saturday.
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