Beavers Start Slow, Finish Strong in 68-61 Win Over USC

Despite trailing big early in the game, the Beavers bounced back to get the win and the season sweep over USC, winning 68-61. The Beavers improve to 21-5, and 11-3 in the Pac-12.

Oregon State’s offense got off to an egregious start, failing to score in the first 6 minutes of the game. Aleah Goodman finally hit a 3 at 3:55 left in the first to get the Beavers on the board, but by that time USC had scored 16 points. Oregon State had once again buried themselves in an early hole, and would have to dig themselves out.

It only took them one quarter to do so.

Joana Grymek and Destiny Slocum got that work started, but the Trojans led 21-10 at the end of the first. Slocum grabbed the first points of the second, slicing through USC’s defense for a layup, and then Jo Grymek went on a tear, scoring the next six points on three layups, and laying down a big block on Kayla Overbeck.

A series of fouls, and a jump shot from Grymek, got the USC lead down to four with a minute left in the half. Grymek hit a foul shot, and then, with just seconds to go, Mikayla Pivec slipped through the USC zone for a layup that cut the lead to one point. The Beavers trailed 27-26 at halftime.

Destiny scored a layup to open the half, and give the Beavers their first lead of the game. OSU and USC traded leads, but then an 11 point run put the Trojans back on top. Another jumper from Grymek finally broke the USC run, and a Katie McWilliams three got the Beavers back in the thick of things. A pair of foul shots from Taya Corosdale and a pair of foul shots from Mikayla Pivec got things tied up again, 42-42.

The Trojans took a two point lead into the fourth, and then added a pair of layups early in the quarter. The Trojans’ Aliyah Mazyck hit a pair of threes that didn’t help the Beavers’ chances, despite Mikayla Pivec hitting a three of her own. Pivec then hit a jumper, and found an open Destiny Slocum under the basket for another 2, cutting the USC lead to 3 at the final media timeout.

A layup from Slocum cut the lead to one, and then a layup from Pivec got the Beavers in front. Trojans got the lead back, but Aleah Goodman hit a beautiful three to give OSU a 2 point margin. Destiny Slocum then all but put the game away, hitting a beautiful three with a USC defender in her face and 30 seconds left in the game.

Grymek grabbed a steal on the next USC possession to put things on ice. The Beavers won 68-61.

Destiny Slocum’s sharp shooting won OSU another game, and she finished with 16 points, 5 assists, and a rebound. Mikayla Pivec was the Beavers’ leading scorer tonight, with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists. Jo Grymek had a big night offensively and defensively, scoring 13 points, and grabbing 9 rebounds, 2 blocks, and a steal.

The Beavers will take on UCLA in their last home game of the season on Sunday, February 24th. It’s your last chance to get to Gill and cheer on the team!