Closing on a 6-0 run over the final 55 seconds, and holding the Pilots scoreless for the last 2:44, the Oregon State Beavers Women’s Basketball team moved a step closer to winning the West Coast Conference with the 64-54 win over University of Portland.
With the win, the Beavers improved to 11-4 in conference play and held on to fourth place in the WCC standings, keeping hope alive in the race to the top of the standings.
“A great win…there’s no easy possessions against them (Portland), because of the way they play…and you know it’s going to be a 40 minute game, and it was,” Head Coach Scott Rueck said in the post-game press conference.
Oregon State (26-64 FG, 41%) made use of a dominant third quarter and a 29-point night from Tiara Bolden to pull away from Portland (20-61 FG, 33%), which struggled to find offense in the fourth despite a game-high 19 points from the Pilots’ Lainey Spear.
Bolden buried a 3-pointer at the 8:23 mark to give Oregon State its first lead, and the teams traded baskets through a tightly contested first quarter.
The Pilots struck back, taking a 6-3 lead with 7:03 remaining in the opening period behind Spear’s aggressive drives. The Beavers, however, responded with fast break opportunities and points in the paint.
OSU outscored the Pilots 36-22 in the paint for the night, and 10-2 on fast breaks.
Oregon State carried a slim 16-14 advantage after the first, thanks in part to work on the glass. The Beavers finished with a 45-36 rebounding margin, including nine offensive boards that helped to fuel key scoring runs.
Portland briefly regained momentum in the second quarter when a 3-pointer from Tiffany Barbosa and steady play from Rhyan Mogel helped the Pilots build a 25-24 lead midway through the frame.
Spear attacked the basket throughout the night, finishing with her 19 points on 23 shots from the field while adding six rebounds to boot.
The Beavers would not be deterred.
Kennedie Shuler conducted the offense with six points, six assists and three rebounds with a plus/minus of +14. She helped the Beavers force 11 Portland turnovers, converting them into 12 points.
Something in the air must have changed during the halftime break, as when the teams came out after the break, the game shifted decisively in the third quarter.
Trading possessions early, Oregon State stampeded on a 17-0 run that stretched a two-point deficit into a commanding 16-point advantage. The Pilots did not score in the third until 4:51 remained, which OSU then held a commanding 43-27 lead.
“I think it was just our willingness to fight…and the third quarter is the most crucial quarter, because coming off of halftime it’s 0-0,” Bolden said in the post-game press conference.
Bolden ignited the comeback with back-to-back 3-pointers and a fast-break layup following a steal. Jenna Villa added a three from the wing, and the Beavers’ defense tightened, forcing consecutive turnovers and hurried attempts.
At the 3:54 mark of the third, Bolden’s pull-up jumper pushed the margin to 45-29, marking Oregon State’s largest lead of the night. The Beavers used efficient shooting during the stretch, while Portland went cold from the perimeter.
Despite the double-digit hole, the Pilots navigated their way back into contention. Nicole Anderson drilled a late 3-pointer in the third, and Spear converted second-chance opportunities into points to cut the deficit to 50-38 entering the fourth.
As Portland continued to chip away in the final period, the Gill Coliseum crowd only grew louder. Spear’s driving layup at 9:06 trimmed the gap to 50-40, and a forced turnover from Mogel brought the Pilots within seven.
Defensive pressure forced a pair of Beaver turnovers, and for a moment, the momentum tilted.
But, when it mattered most, Oregon State delivered.
After Portland’s final field goal with 2:44 remaining, the Beavers engineered the defensive stand they needed. Bolden calmly sank two free throws with 17 seconds left to extend the lead to 64-54, effectively ending the contest.
Portland missed its final five field goal attempts, proving unable to overcome Oregon State’s rebounding and interior defense.
Bolden finished 11-of-20 from the field and 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, pacing the Beavers’ attack. Oregon State’s collective defensive effort held Portland to 25% shooting from 3-point range and 20-61 overall (32.78%).
The Beavers play their next game on Saturday at Gill Coliseum against the Washington State Cougars.