Oregon State Improves To 5-0

While everyone else was watching the Civil War, and following up with holiday shopping and high school championships on Saturday, the 7th ranked Oregon State women's basketball team spent the holiday weekend in a totally different way. But while almost no one heard it, much less saw it, it was a productive adventure, as the Beavers took a pair of wins in the San Juan Shootout, solidly defeating the best opposition they have faced so far this season.

Friday, Oregon State literally shot down Hofstra 73-50. The Beavers shot 58% from the field for the game, and were an even more impressive 70% from 3 point range. Sydney Wiese led the way, with 19 points, and shot 88%, making 7 of 8 shots, including 3 of the 3s.

Jamie Weisner was right behind, with 15 points, and Ruth Hamblin was also in double digits, with 11.

At the same time, the Oregon State defense was clamping down on Hofstra, holding the Pride (as in, of Lions) to 33% shooting from the floor. Kelly Lofton was the only Pride player in double digits, with 14 points.

The Beavers used a 12-0 run to open a 12-2 lead, and had the game put away by halftime, taking a 41-21 lead. The largest lead of the game was 24 points, but more importantly, in the second half the smallest lead was 18.

Hofstra was a quality opponent, entering the game undefeated as well, and the Pride, which reached the Championship game of the Colonial Athletic Conference tournament last season, and went on to the WNIT, bounced back the next day with an 82-40 win to improve to 5-1.

Saturday, Oregon State completed their weekend adventure with a 63-47 win over Arkansas. Weisner dominated the game, with 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting, including nailing 6 of 7 from 3 point range.

Hamblin helped out, with a 16 point, 11 rebound double double, and also swatted 6 Razorback shots aside.

Otherwise, Oregon State had an awful day offensively. After shooting the lights out Friday, the Beavers shot only 40% for the game, and made just 29% of their 3s, and that was with Weisner conducting a shooting clinic.

But while struggling offensively overall, Oregon State made sure Arkansas has an even tougher time scoring, holding the Razorbacks below 30% from the field, and to only 20% on 3s.

Wiese used up most of her weekend allotment of shots on Friday, and had only 9 points, a result of going 1 of 10 from outside the 3 point arc. But as often is the case, Wiese found other ways to make a difference, and came away with a game high 14 rebounds. This from the point, and with the likes of Hamblin in the middle. Wiese also dished out a game high 7 assists.

Jordan Danberry led Arkansas, with 14 points, and Jessica Jackson was the only other player with a double digit stat of any sort, with 11 points for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas dropped to 2-4 on the season, but the Razorbacks are an SEC team, and one that went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year. Oregon State coach Scott Rueck characterized Arkansas as the most athletic team Oregon State has seen this season.

And the Razorbacks took a 17-16 lead after 1 quarter, in a game that saw neither team open more than a 3 point lead in the first period.

Oregon State responded with a 14-0 run to start the second quarter, and took a 38-26 lead to the locker room at halftime.

Arkansas rallied back within 3 points in the 3rd quarter, but the Beavers ultimately pulled away to the 16 point win.

Oregon State moves on on their road trip, taking on Marquette in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Thursday.

Andy_Wooldridge@yahoo.com