Beavers Outlast Fighting Hawks in Women’s Basketball Season Opener

Oregon State Women’s Basketball opened the season with a ten point win over the visiting Fighting Hawks of North Dakota. The Beavers were led by senior C/F Marie Gulich one day after she made the Lisa Leslie Award Preseason watch list for the best center in women’s basketball. Gulich scored 16 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and rejected seven shots for an all around performance. Equally impressive was Mikayla Pivec, who was efficient in scoring 15 points on 7-11 shooting, while tallying 15 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals. Katie McWilliams and Taylor Kalmer both scored double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively. North Dakota was led by Portland, Oregon native Melissa Dailey with 15 points.

The Hawks started out with a 9-6 lead in the first quarter before the Beavers went on a 12-0 run to take the lead behind Kalmer’s quick 10 points. Things went quiet, though, as the Hawks answered with their own 10-0 run to end the second quarter and take the lead. The teams traded baskets before the Hawks snuck out to a five-point lead with 3:19 left in the half. The Beavers were able to close out the second half with five points to make it a tied game at the half.

In the second half, the Beavers jumped out to an nine point lead by halfway through the quarter at 43-34 behind a Pivec layup. The Hawks, however, would not go away quietly, as they went on an 8-0 run to come within one point at 43-42, then again at 46-45 behind a couple of three-points from Bailey Strand. At the start of the fourth quarter, the Hawks were able to stay within three points of the Beavers for nearly three minutes until McWiliams and Gulich hit a couple baskets. Then with three minutes left, newcomer, Taya Corosdale, hit a three pointer to put the Hawks away for good.

The Beavers play next against the Utah Valley Wolverines on Wednesday, November 15th. Tip off is scheduled for 6 PM at Gill Coliseum.