A storied season needs to end on a high note

What happens when you lose the seventh-leading scorer in Oregon State history?

OSU will find out this offseason when senior guard Jamie Weisner graduates and likely move on to a professional career with the WNBA.

A large part of OSU’s rise to power over the last three seasons has largely been because of what Weisner has been able to accomplish in her time in the orange and black.

To put into perspective just how good Weisner has been, let’s look at where she is ranked in the OSU and Pac-12 records.

OSU:

• No. 7 scoring all time at OSU(1567)

• No. 2 all time in three-pointers made (224)

• No. 2 all time in three-point percentage (41 percent)

Pac-12:

• No. 9 all time in free throw percentage (82.3)

• No. 54 all time in career points (1567)

I could go on, but Weisner’s numbers speak for themselves and show just how much of a big-time player that she has become.

Her accolades don’t go unnoticed either, as she was recently named one of 30 midseason finalists for the Naismith Trophy, given annually to the NCAA’s best player.

In her final season at OSU, Weisner is having the type of season that is going to lead OSU not only to the Pac-12 crown, but deep into the NCAA tournament.

She is averaging 17 points per game and shooting a mind-boggling 49 percent from the floor, all while leading OSU to a 22-3 overall record and 13-1 in Pac-12 play.

OSU has to make the best of the end of this season and ride this group of seniors to the promise land this postseason.

Last year the Beavers came up short of their postseason goals when they were bounced in the second round of the NCAA tournament, but this year feels different.

The Beavers have faced more adversity this season because of injuries, and seemed more poised and primed to make some noise come March.

But perhaps the biggest difference from last season to now is that Weisner is playing with a never-say-die attitude. Each game she dives on the floor for loose balls, crashes the glass and is more vocal than I have ever seen her.

The good news for OSU?

Weisner’s attitude and lead by example demeanor isn’t going to let OSU lose this season, and for Rueck and Co. that is something that will lead the Beavers to postseason success.

Bottom line: OSU is going to miss Weisner more than they know.

In addition to Weisner, OSU loses center Ruth Hamblin, forwards Sam Siegner and Deven Hunter and reserve guard Jen’Von’Ta Hill.

Weisner’s senior leadership and swagger will be greatly missed once the final buzzer sounds in 2016, but regardless of how it does end, she will be remembered as one of the key pieces in OSU’s ability to be amongst the nation’s elite teams. Weisner’s legacy has this team primed for success.