OSU faces USC in first round of Pac-12 Tournament

The Oregon State women’s basketball team takes on USC in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament today at noon.

The first and only time these two teams have met this season was back at the beginning of Pac-12 play. On Jan. 4, USC (10-19, 7-11 Pac-12) snatched the win from the Beavers (10-20, 4-14) with a buzzer beater that ended the game by a score of 56-55.

“That was a game where we would love to have the end of the game back,” said head coach Scott Rueck after Sunday’s loss to No. 18 Colorado. “We would like to have those last four seconds back.”

Oregon State recognizes the significance the win could have had toward close losses the Beavers had early in the season. The four-point loss to No. 14 UCLA and the overtime losses to both Washington and Washington State particularly stand out.

Oregon State has shown what type of team it can be when the Beavers play with confidence. When at its best, OSU can compete with any school in the conference.

Although Oregon State fell to Colorado, 66-63, in overtime last Sunday, the Beavers showed glimpses of their potential, competing toe-to-toe with the one of the better schools in the Pac-12.

Oregon State is heading into the Pac-12 Tournament playing its best basketball of the year. The Beavers will look to continue to play up to their capability if they want to make it past the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament.

“I think our team is doing well,” said sophomore guard Ali Gibson after Sunday’s loss to Colorado. “I think we are playing the best we have played this season so far, we are ready for the tournament and we want to compete and just battle every night to see how far we can get in it.”

If Oregon State can pull off the upset today, the Beavers will advance to the second round and play No. 5 Cal tomorrow.

Sarah Kerrigan, sports reporter
On Twitter @skerrigan123
sports@dailybarometer.com