In Las Vegas, Oregon State’s women’s basketball team crowned their debut season in the West Coast Conference (WCC) with a notable triumph, defeating two-time reigning champions, Portland, on Tuesday. The fourth-seeded Beavers pulled off a 59-46 victory, ending Portland’s impressive 13-game winning streak. This victory also secured Oregon State an automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament, a day after they outplayed top-seed Gonzaga with a thrilling 63-61 semifinal victory.
Oregon State, with a historical 19-13 win-loss record over 13 NCAA Tournament appearances, is hopeful for another competitive run, reminiscent of their Final Four journey in 2016. Key player Catarina Ferreira was crucial in the final game, leading the Beavers with 16 points and 12 rebounds. She effectively converted five out of 12 shots, including a three-pointer, and made five out of nine free throws. Teammate AJ Marotte chipped in 11 points despite struggling with her shooting.
For the Pilots, second-seeded in the tournament, Maisie Burnham put forth a strong effort with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Burnham was proficient from the foul line, making nine out of ten, though less so from the field, hitting just three of her 12 attempts. Supporting Burnham was Alexis Mark, who contributed 11 points and five rebounds.
Initially, Burnham’s efforts helped Portland attain a modest 13-9 lead by the end of the first quarter. However, Oregon State remarkably turned the tides in the second quarter, outscoring the Pilots by 14 points to establish a 27-17 halftime advantage. In the third quarter, Sela Heide’s offensive rebound and basket gave the Beavers their widest margin at 39-25. Despite Burnham’s effort in scoring Portland’s last five points in the quarter from the foul line, they still trailed 42-32.
Portland’s resilience showed in the final quarter, as Emme Shearer’s three-pointer tightened the score to 47-41. Nevertheless, Ferreira’s second-chance layup reignited Oregon State, leading to a six-point unanswered run, which allowed them to maintain control and secure their victory.
Historically, Portland has participated in the NCAA Tournament six times, but has yet to advance beyond the first round. Meanwhile, Oregon State’s past success includes winning three consecutive Pac-12 Tournaments from 2015 to 2017, illustrating their capability of performing under high-stakes conditions.
