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Oregon State Women’s Basketball Loses in Pac-12 Quarterfinals to Arizona State

Beavers can’t go 3-for-3 against the Sun Devils

By Leo Castaneda
NCAA Womens Basketball: Long Beach St. at Oregon St. Statesman Journal-USA TODAY NETWORK

Charli Turner Thorne finally closed the deal. In their third try this season, Arizona State beat Oregon State in the quarterfinals on the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament. The Sun Devil’s Courtney Ekmark, who was cold in their first two meetings (3-of-17 total), nailed her first two three-point shots and finished 5-of-7 from downtown to lead all scorers with 18.

It was deju vu of game number two between these two teams (which coincidentally was the Beavers’ last game) as offensive rebounds were again a Thorne in Oregon State’s side. Arizona State collected 11 offensive boards in the first half and 16 in the game to play keep-away and hold the Beavers to just 30 total rebounds.

The Sun Devils devoted their defense to containing Marie Gulich and were often double and triple-teaming her. Their game-plan worked as Gulich was held to just six points and four rebounds; in the second quarter she was held without a single point or rebound.

But just like in their last meeting, the Beavers found some offense in the third quarter as they found their rhythm with the three-ball. By the end of the quarter, the teams were neck and neck before Katie McWilliams nailed a buzzer-beater from the left corner to put the Beavers up by two heading into the final 10 minutes.

After finding themselves in a six-point hole with half the quarter left, the Sun Devils went on a 13-1 run to close the game and knock off the three-seeded Beavers for the the tournament’s only upset in the quarterfinals. Arizona State will live on to play against Stanford tomorrow night for their third game in as many days.

Oregon State was led by Pivec and McWilliams who each had 14 points. The Beavers will now have to sit and await for their postseason fate. While they entered the week ranked tenth in the nation according to the AP Poll, they were just 33rd in the RPI which heavily weighs into the selection committee’s decision making for the NCAA Tournament. Will we see more games at a Gill Coliseum this season? Those chances likely slipped away.