A Thrilling Overtime Victory for Oregon State Women’s Basketball

In a nail-biting overtime showdown, the Oregon State women’s basketball team secured a 69-68 road win over Pepperdine on Saturday. The game was decided by a late foul call that led to a crucial free throw, sealing the victory for the Beavers.

Jenna Villa was at the center of the action, drawing the foul just before an inbounds pass with only 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock. She successfully made the first free throw, capping off her impressive 25-point performance and sending the Beavers home with a hard-fought win.

Pepperdine had taken the lead 68-65 with 1:11 left in overtime after Lina Falk hit a three-pointer. However, the Waves failed to score again, and Oregon State needed every second of the remaining time to pull off the win.

Villa played a pivotal role in the final moments, scoring a three-point play with 10 seconds left to tie the game at 68-68. Following a timeout, the Beavers got the ball at mid-court with just 0.3 seconds left. Instead of running a play, they relied on a defensive stop that led to a foul on Pepperdine, giving Villa the chance to win the game.

The Beavers (14-6, 6-1 WCC) were supported by strong performances from their key players. Kennedie Shuler contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Lara Alonso Basurto added 10 points and six rebounds. On the other side, Pepperdine (11-8, 2-5 WCC) showed their shooting prowess, hitting 13 of their 34 three-point attempts. Elli Guiney led the way with six three-pointers, finishing with a game-high 26 points.

Game Highlights and Key Moments

The game started with Oregon State attacking the paint, feeding Lizzy Williamson the ball and taking an early 6-3 lead. By the midpoint of the first quarter, the Beavers led 12-8, with most of their points coming inside the paint.

Pepperdine kept the game close by relying on their three-point shooting. A three-pointer late in the first quarter gave the Waves their first lead, 17-16. Active defense by Pepperdine led to several key turnovers for the Beavers, who fell behind 21-16 at one point. However, Oregon State closed out the first quarter strongly, tying the game at 21-21.

In the second quarter, Villa hit a three-pointer to give the Beavers the lead back. The remainder of the quarter saw both teams trading baskets, with each team hitting their share of three-pointers. Oregon State was more efficient, making 4 of 9 three-point attempts compared to Pepperdine’s 6 of 19. The Beavers ended the half leading 36-35.

A Strong Second Half for Oregon State

The third quarter began with Oregon State transitioning quickly from defense to offense, pushing out in transition to take a 40-35 lead. However, Pepperdine responded with a significant run, rattling off a 19-0 surge over five minutes that included five three-pointers. The Waves took control, leading 54-40 late in the third quarter.

Despite the deficit, Oregon State finished the third quarter strong with a 7-2 run, including a three-pointer by Villa. Still, they entered the final frame trailing by nine points.

In the fourth quarter, the Beavers went on a 7-0 run, capped by a layup from Villa, cutting the Waves’ lead to 60-56 with 6:14 remaining. A 9-0 run followed before Pepperdine snapped it with a three-pointer. Oregon State’s zone defense tightened up, and they tied the game at 63 with two minutes remaining.

Upcoming Matchup

Looking ahead, Oregon State will face Gonzaga in their next game. The matchup is scheduled for:

• When: Thursday, Jan. 22
• Time: 6:00 pm PT
• Where: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis
• Stream: ESPN+