LAS VEGAS — Stanford erased a first-half deficit on Friday night and knocked Oregon State out of the Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament.
Final: Stanford 66, OSU 57.
The Beavers led by a 24-12 score at the end of the first quarter and took a 35-27 lead to the locker room at halftime, but struggled to score in the final two quarters. OSU made only eight of its 27 shots in the second half.
“I just thought we really battled,” Beavers coach Scott Rueck said after the loss. “We kept working. I thought we moved the ball well. We got some good looks. They just didn't go.”
Stanford (28-4) advanced and will play USC, which beat rival UCLA 80-70 in double overtime. The Cardinal and Trojans will play for the tournament title on Sunday. Oregon State (24-7) — projected as a potential No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament — will await its postseason assignment.
OSU’s Talia von Oelhoffen said: “This one got away from us, but nothing to hang our heads about. And we're battle-tested and we're ready for March. So we’re right back to work.”
Photographer Serena Morones was on the scene at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday night and captured the emotion of the OSU-Stanford game in her photo gallery:
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Nice job Serena. Thank You. Sad day for OSU but incredible recovery by Stanford.
Should be a fun final last Pac12 Women's Championship. As Talia said...on to March Madness.
Nice photos, John-thanks.
I think the OSU players were a little tired from yesterday’s double OT war with CO. Rueck did not use the bench much at all, and it’s hard to match up With Stanford when you’re fresh. All in all, the players have nothing to regret. Onward!