Credit a rejuvenated second half comeback for Cal’s 56-45 victory over the OSU women, as the Golden Bears racked up 45 points in the second period.
“Cal is an excellent basketball team,” head coach LaVonda Wagner said. “They did an excellent job of playing personnel. In the second half they came out and attacked us. This was a game that we battled until the end.”
No. 9 California (20-3, 11-1 Pac-10) started out with the control of the tip and of the game as they shot out to a 7-2 lead over the Beavers (10-13, 3-9 Pac-10). With 12:30 left in the first half Oregon State guards Ashley Allen and Mercedes Fox-Griffin ran the fast break on one defender, which ended with an easy basket for Allen to get the Beavers second basket.
After the Allen basket both teams struggled not only to get open shots but also to maintain possession. OSU began to slow down the games tempo, which at 9:58 led to an Allen miss, rebound and make giving Oregon State a 9-7 lead.
A pair of free throws for post Stacey Nichols extended the lead to four points, as OSU battled on the defensive glass cutting down the Golden Bears second chances. One final Cal bucket and the half ended 13-11 with Oregon State on top.
“This was a game of defensive stands,” Wagner said. “Cal finished the half with 11 points, anytime you can hold the number nine team in the country to 11 points in 20 minutes that’s phenomenal.”
Cal once again started the half with the ball, upon tying the game on their initial possession the Golden Bears began to charge ahead. The two teams traded baskets early in the second half; a layin by Allen brought the Beavers three, 26-29.
Post Alex Mitchell once again came off the bench and was able to battle the talented Cal posts as she scored an easy basket with 7:06 left. To counter the post presence Fox-Griffin took a fast break opportunity by herself against two defenders at 5:55.
OSU began to creep back in despite no baskets from beyond the arc due to the tight perimeter defense by Cal. With 1:06 remaining guard Talisa Rhea sent an overhead pass down court to a streaking Fox-Griffin who corralled it and took it in for an easy two.
Down 38-44 with a minute left Oregon State was ready to send Cal to the line, where the Golden Bears began to drain their free throws. With 00:53.1 on the clock OSU hit their first three of the game as the ball came out of Rhea’s hands. As the ball sank through the net the crowd of 927 erupted, too late in the game however as the Golden Bears were near perfect from the line.
“It was tough to get shots off,” Allen said. “We tried to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket, we needed to use our other options.”
Leading the way on offense for the Beavers was Mitchell and her 13 points off the bench. Post Tiffany Ducker pulled in seven boards to lead the team. On the other side Cal was lead by Ashley Walker and Natasha Vital and their 17 points apiece.
Oregon State returns to Gill Coliseum on Saturday against Stanford in the “Think Pink” game. Fans are asked to wear pink to the game to support breast cancer awareness.
Leave a Reply