BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A last–second three–point desperation try by Oregon State's Talisa Rhea clanged off the back iron and fell to the floor giving the CSUB women's basketball team its first victory over a Pac–10 opponent, 57–54, Tuesday evening at the Icardo Center. The Roadrunners (14–9) forced 31 Beaver turnovers which offset an uncharacteristically cold shooting performance. For Oregon State (9–11), it extended its current nine–game slide after opening the season with wins in nine of 11 tries.
Senior Katie Williams (Las Vegas/Reedley College) led the way with a game–best 26 points. She also recorded four steals which tied her with Audrie Magdaleno for the single–season steals mark with 91 on the year. Magdaleno set the mark during the Roadrunners' inaugural 2000–01 season. Senior Phynique Allen (San Diego/Eastern Washington) added 11 points and freshman Amber Williams (Fontana, Calif./Etiwanda HS) scored 10 with four steals. Senior Kelley Tarver, who scored five points, played in her 115th career game as a Roadrunner which ties the all–time mark shared by Krista Arase.
The Beavers held the lead for most of the first half, pushing the lead out to eight with 4:07 remaining. But 18 turnovers allowed the Roadrunners to stay close to hot shooting Oregon State (11-of-21, 52.4%) and late in the half, CSUB grabbed the lead on the heels of a 10–1 run. Katie Williams led all scorers with 16 points at the break.
Despite never surrendering the lead in the second half, the outcome was very much in doubt the entire way for the 'Runners. After building a seven point lead early, Oregon State stormed back with a 10–3 run to tie the game, 47–47, with 9:56 left to play. The Roadrunner lead would never get above three points the rest of the way as OSU stayed close, largely due to its offensive rebounding. The Beavers grabbed 18 offensive boards on the night but missed shots inside resulted in just 16 second–chance points. With 15 seconds remaining, Amber Williams stepped to the line with the opportunity to give CSUB a two–possession lead. After hitting the first one, Williams missed the second charity toss, giving OSU a last chance, down by three, 57–54. But two missed Beaver three–pointers as time expired gave the 'Runners their signature victory over a BCS conference member. Women's basketball now joins men's soccer and wrestling as the only three CSUB sports to record a Pac–10 victory.
Oregon State was led by Rhea who finished with 17 points. Julie Futch had 14 points, hitting a career-best 4-of-5 from beyond the arc.
CSUB was aided by the 32 points it converted off of the 31 Oregon State miscues. The 'Runners have now forced at least 20 opponent miscues in all but two games this season while holding an positive turnover margin in every game. The win also moved the Roadrunners' all–time record when holding opponents under 60 points to a perfect 85–0.
Up next, CSUB will head to Irvine, Calif., to take on the Anteaters at the Bren Center on Saturday, Feb. 6, at 5 p.m. That game will be followed by the Roadrunner men's team taking on UC Irvine at 7 p.m.
CSU BAKERSFIELD 57, OREGON STATE 54
OREGON STATE (9-11)
Rhea 6-19 3-4 17; Futch 5-10 0-0 14; Tilleman 4-6 0-1 8;
Greer 2-2 3-6 7; Burdick 1-2 2-2 4; Sheppard 1-3 2-2 4; McCalister 0-2 0-0 0;
Lanz 0-0 0-0 0; Kennedy 0-1 0-0 0; Palmer 0-5 0-0 0. Totals 19-50 10-15 54.
CSU BAKERSFIELD (14-9)
K. Williams 10-22 2-3 26; Allen 3-15 5-7 11; A. Williams
4-10 2-3 10; Tarver 2-9 0-0 5; Belt 1-4 0-0 3; Davis 0-1 2-4 2; Leon 0-0 0-0 0.
Totals 20-61 11-17 57.
Oregon State 30 24 54
CSU Bakersfield 31 26 57
3-point goals--Oregon State 6-16 (Futch 4-5; Rhea 2-9;
Kennedy 0-1; Palmer 0-1), CSU Bakersfield 6-19 (K. Williams 4-7; Belt 1-3;
Tarver 1-3; A. Williams 0-4; Allen 0-2). Fouled out--Oregon State-None, CSU
Bakersfield-None. Rebounds--Oregon State 54 (Greer 14), CSU Bakersfield 26
(Davis 8). Assists--Oregon State 7 (Rhea 3), CSU Bakersfield 7 (Allen 3). Total
fouls--Oregon State 18, CSU Bakersfield 16. Technical fouls--Oregon State-None,
CSU Bakersfield-None. A-277
