Heading into their second game for the Oregon State University Beavers women’s basketball (4-1 overall) team during the Phil Knight Legacy tournament, they had to face the Duke Blue Devils.

The Beavers previously lost in their first game of the Phil Knight Legacy tournament to No. 9 Iowa, so they, as a team, have to show if they can leave the tournament with a win in their hands.

With the Blue Devils being projected to win this matchup, the Beavers struggled to hold onto their ground and came up with their second loss, 54-41, after a 4-0 start to the season. 

Here are some things to know: 

• Duke and Oregon State were both coming off their first losses of the season, hoping to both get a win tonight.
• Kennedy Brown, a previous Oregon State player that is now transferred to Duke, played against her old team for the first time during this game. 
• Duke managed to hold onto a solid lead throughout the entire game, holding the Beavers’ highest scoring of 13 points in the 2nd quarter. 

Throughout the game, there was a question being asked: Who is Oregon State’s playmaker? 

With the Beavers struggling on offense, the key player tonight was Raegan Beers (Forward) with a total of 11 points. Beers completed all three assists and made four of her five shots. While on the other side of things, Celeste Taylor from the Blue Devils made an impact with her 18 points tonight. 

In the first quarter, the Blue Devils went on an eight-point run within two minutes where the Beavers were not able to gain control of the ball and get something on the board. 

This set the tone for the remainder of the game as the Beavers attempted to come back – the closest was a two-point difference – as the Blue Devils held onto their very solid lead. 

It is something one would call a “cold start” for the Beavers. 

As the Beavers team was hoping to come back from the first half and execute control within their passing, they were held down to minimal scoring as the Blue Devils pushed pressure. 

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Blue Devils’ defense stood its ground as they pulled multiple defensive stops on the Beavers and only allowed them six points. 

Going into the Beavers second loss of the tournament, they are on a journey to one: find their playmaker and two: work on their offense and build chemistry. 

The Oregon State Beavers (4-2) are next to face Southern University Jaguars (2-3) on Thursday, Dec. 1st at Gill Stadium at 11:00 a.m.