Oregon State women’s basketball loses for first time this season, as No. 9 USC escapes with a 56 54 win

No. 9 USC survived a wild fourth quarter as the Trojans edged Oregon State 56 54 and hand the Beavers their first women’s basketball loss of the season Friday night in Los Angeles. Oregon State just missed forcing overtime, as the lead changed hands five times during the final quarter. Down two with the final possession, the Beavers got open shots from Donovyn Hunter and Raegan Beers during the final 10 seconds but couldn’t convert.

Oregon State (12 1, 1 1 Pac 12) led for most of the game, but USC took over when it counted, grabbing a 56 51 lead with 2:17 remaining on a three by Kayla Padilla. The Trojans (11 1, 1 1) didn’t score again, but held OSU to just a three point play during final two minutes. Talia von Oelhoffen scored 10 of her team high 18 points during the third quarter.

The junior guard also had six rebounds and six assists. Hunter hit three three pointers and scored 13 points. Oregon State shot 19 of 56 from the floor. Of the 56 shots, the Beavers took 32 from three point range, hitting eight. USC freshman Juju Watkins scored 33 points. Watkins, the country’s second leading scorer at 26.8 points a game, made 11 of 33 shots.

The 6 foot 2 guard also had six rebounds and five blocked shots. The Trojans shot 32% (22 of 68) from the floor. Rayah Marshall had 14 rebounds for USC. Playing a road game for the first time this season, Oregon State never trailed during the first half and led 28 25 at halftime. The Beavers did it despite having Raegan Beers, their leading scorer this season, sit for most of the first half in foul trouble.

During the third quarter, Oregon State led by as many as six points, but USC scored the final seven points to take a 43 42 lead into the fourth quarter. Oregon State’s best stretch of the final quarter was a burst of five consecutive points, capped by a Hunter three, to take a 47 45 lead. Later, after Beers put OSU in front, Padilla hit a pair of three pointers to key an 8 2 Trojans run for a 56 51 lead.

Beers pulled Oregon State to within 56 54 with 1:34 left on a three point play. USC didn’t score again, but neither did the Beavers as they missed three shots during the final 49 seconds. Oregon State completes its Los Angeles road trip Sunday when the Beavers face No. 2 UCLA at 1 p.m. Nick Daschel |.