Another game, another loss

With both teams showing quality defense in Gill Coliseum Monday night, it was Washington that separated itself and came away victorious in the end.

In what has become routine for the Oregon State women’s basketball team (9-17, 3-11 Pac-12), the Beavers could not get their shots to fall. Through the first half of the game, they were just six-of-25 shooting. Surprisingly, the Huskies (19-6, 11-3 Pac-12) were even worse. They shot a paltry 6-of-31 from the field in the first half.

When the buzzer sounded, OSU led the Huskies 22-18.  For much of the game, the Beavers held the lead. For the second game in a row, however, they were unable to close it out in crunch time.

In the second half, the game was a battle between two guards. Powering Oregon State was freshman Jamie Weisner, who bounced back from a 3-for-13 shooting night on Friday to finish with a game-high 22 points on seven-for-15 shooting.

“I just approach each game with the same mindset,” Weisner said. “I try not to worry about the last game. ... It’s still disappointing. I would’ve given 22 of those points back to get a win.”

For Washington, guard Jazmine Davis was the one driving her team. She led the Huskies with 20 points and provided numerous crucial baskets down the stretch. With 8:52 left in the game, Davis downed a 3-pointer to give the Huskies their first lead of the night, at 35-34.

Weisner claimed it right back for OSU on a jumpshot, and the two teams would trade leads until the Beavers let it slip through their fingers.

“I think their defense stifled us at the end of the game,” said head coach Scott Rueck. “They played good defense, they made everything tough for us down the stretch. I thought we got some decent looks ... we just missed.”

With the game on the line for the Huskies, Jazmine Davis was sent to the free throw line with 14 seconds left and her team up by two points. She calmly drained both free throws to put the game away.  
If any positives come from their second heartbreaking loss in three days, it’s that the Beavers’ defense has been playing well. On the season, the Huskies are averaging 68 points per game, and to hold them to 49 is a testament to OSU’s defensive efforts.

“I thought our defense was phenomenal tonight,” Rueck said. “I thought we made them work for everything. I don’t think it was just an off-shooting night, we guarded them and defended them.”

Still, a loss is a loss, and this one marks the eighth in a row for the Beavers, who are in the midst of a free fall. They had high hopes entering the season.

“This is new territory for me,” Rueck said. “I’m trying to navigate it myself a little. ... This year we come in with expectations, and losing isn’t acceptable. I think there’s absolutely a mental toll on all of us.”

The Beavers will travel south this weekend to play No. 4 Stanford and No. 6 California in what are bound to be difficult games.

 

Mitch Mahoney, sports reporter

On Twitter @MitchIsHere

sports@dailybarometer.com