March basketball came early, as the Oregon State women’s basketball team defeated Gonzaga University in overtime, 92-87, in a roaring Gill Coliseum Thursday night. 

In a potential preview of a West Coast Conference championship match, the Beavers and the Bulldogs turned Gill into total chaos, as OSU now sits first in the conference following the thriller.

“It was just fun to be a part of, honestly,” Oregon State Head Coach Scott Rueck said.

“To see everybody rise, and they had to rise. These guys were too good. You knew they were going to throw punches back when we threw them.”

The first quarter was a display of offensive basketball, with neither side able to gain more than an eight point lead. Gonzaga’s Teryn Gardner buried an early three, only to be answered seconds later by a deep Jenna Villa three.

Oregon State carried a narrow 23-20 lead into the second.

“I loved the intensity that we played with from the beginning,” Rueck said. “I loved the focus. I loved the aggressiveness.”

But Gonzaga answered quickly before the half.

Lauren Whittaker and Sierra Lichtie steadied the Bulldogs before Allie Turner drilled a deep three to trim the deficit to 31-29.

The fouls became constant, disrupting Oregon State’s rhythm and sending Gonzaga repeatedly to the free-throw line.

The half ended with both teams tied at 40-40.

“I was just frustrated with the inconsistency,” Rueck said afterward.

Even with foul trouble looming, Oregon State came out of the locker room firing. Villa ignited the crowd with a quick three, but Whittaker answered immediately after with her own bucket.

The Beavers finally found daylight when Villa drilled back-to-back threes to push the score ahead for OSU.

Oregon State carried a 61-56 lead into the fourth, but the Bulldogs weren’t done.

Gonzaga’s Zeryhia Aokuso opened the final quarter with a successful jumper, before Lichtie buried a 25-footer to tie the game at 61.

With 12 seconds left, the Beavers clung to a small lead. With Villa sinking her second free throw to make it 79-76, OSU.

With three seconds left, Gonzaga’s Allie Turner inbounded at half court, found a teammate in Paige Lofing, who then hit her 29-foot 3-point attempt. 

Tie game. Overtime.

“Amazing shot to force overtime,” Rueck said. “It’s a bummer anybody had to lose.” 

Overtime started slow, with both teams combining for only 11 points in the first four minutes.

With 56 seconds left, Villa hit one of two free throws to give Oregon State an 86-84 edge.

In the final seconds, with the Beavers leading, Whittaker pulled up for a potential game-tying three. But the ball bounced off the rim. 

Oregon State secured the rebound, and the 92-87 victory.

A key name that out-performed was Kennedie Shuler. Who tied the Oregon State single-game record for steals. 

Rueck called it “an elite performance,” adding, “It’s like she’s a center fielder out there, just reading scenarios, getting into the mind of your opponent.”

“Her anticipation, athleticism, and willingness to work that hard is inspiring.”

“I love playing defense,” Shuler said. “I feel like it’s who I am at my core. It’s a great way to set the tone and get momentum for us.”

The environment inside Gill Coliseum also played a factor, as it only amplified the energy on the floor.

“It was loud tonight,” Rueck said. “I heard them booing. I heard them cheering. These people have our back like no other.”

“This is a 16-year relationship we’re in, and these people love us, and we love them.” 

“We play so hard for them, and they cheer so hard for us. And I’m like, there’s just a way that they cheer us up like that. It’s one thing to have numbers, it’s another thing to have active people that are passionate. That’s what makes this place special,” Rueck said. 

OSU will look to return to Gill Coliseum on Jan. 29 to host yet another WCC matchup against San Diego.