Is Oregon State the best women’s basketball team in the Pac-12? Beavers are climbing
Sunday in Pac-12 women’s basketball was not straightforward or normal. That’s a warning to USC, which prepares to host Arizona in a Galen Center Monday night special on ESPN2. The Trojans, if they were watching other Pac-12 games on Sunday, watched a few upsets happen which should have them attentive and on upset alert against the U of A. Leading the pack: Oregon State.
The Beavers might soon lead the Pac — not just the pack — if they keep playing the way they are playing.
Pac-12 women’s basketball is extremely cutthroat, and Oregon State is playing cutting-edge defense right now. That and more in our latest installment of Pac-12 women’s basketball notes as the month of March gets closer:
OREGON STATE-MENT
The Oregon State Beavers defeated No. 4 Colorado on Sunday in Boulder to sweep the season series between the two teams. The final score was 65-59, but know this: It was a blowout in every meaningful sense. OSU led by 15 or more points for a majority of the second half and still led 64-46 with 3:05 left in regulation before Colorado made a meaningless late rally which was entirely cosmetic. Oregon State still led by nine points with 35 seconds left. Colorado was down eight points with the ball with 15 seconds left, never in any position to get within even one score of the Beavers. It was an authoritative display from a team which is playing lights-out defense.
RUECK-ING CREW
How good is Oregon State on defense? The Beavers are allowing opponents to shoot under 36 percent from the field. That’s remarkable. OSU held Colorado under 30 percent from the field for most of the game before the Buffs had their late (cosmetic) surge in which they hit a series of shots.
Oregon State held Utah to 44 points on Friday and Colorado to 46 points in 36-plus minutes on Sunday before the Buffs scored a bunch of late points. No Pac-12 team is playing better defense right now. Scott Rueck is a heck of a coach.
STANFORD IN FIRST
This was supposed to be a down year for Stanford. Lauren Betts transferred to UCLA. The Bruins were No. 2 in the country and roaring along a month ago. All that has changed. Stanford overcame a slow start to beat Washington State in Pullman. That plus Colorado’s loss puts Stanford (11-2 Pac-12) in sole possession of first place in the conference, one game ahead of the 10-3 Buffs. Oregon State is tied with CU in the loss column for second at 9-3.
CAL UPSETS WASHINGTON IN BIG BUBBLE RESULT
Cal’s Sunday upset of Washington in Seattle, a 59-57 victory, deals the Huskies a significant blow. Washington is the Pac-12 team which is on the middle of the bubble. Washington would not be in the Women’s NCAA Tournament if the season ended today.
UCLA BOUNCES BACK
With Lauren Betts back after missing a few games, UCLA looked good against Arizona State on Sunday, delivering a 31-point win. UCLA is battling USC for fourth place and an opening-round bye at the Pac-12 Tournament.
UTAH BLOWS OUT OREGON
Utah’s win puts the Utes at 8-5 in the Pac-12. USC is 7-4 entering Monday’s Arizona game. The Trojans need to win to stay ahead of the Utes and tie 8-4 UCLA for fourth place.
USC WIN OVER OREGON STATE
USC’s hard-fought and close win over Oregon State early in the Pac-12 season looks a lot better now. That win could ensure the Trojans get a top-four seed in the NCAA Tournament and therefore host opening-weekend (first- and second-round) games.
USC goes to Corvallis later in February in what is shaping up as a huge showdown. UCLA at OSU is a very big game, too.
OREGON STATE AT STANFORD
Oregon State plays Stanford on Thursday, February 29. That could decide the Pac-12 championship.
COLORADO IN LOS ANGELES
Colorado visits Los Angeles to play UCLA on Friday, February 23, and USC on Sunday, February 25. Those games will tell us whether Oregon State-Stanford on February 29 is for the Pac-12 title or perhaps second place. Those games and the L.A. schools’ trip to Corvallis are the featured games in the Pac-12 regular season these final few weeks.
