The last game of the regular season before the Pac-12 tournament ended with an unfortunate loss for Arizona women’s basketball team against Oregon State University. The game was on the road in Corvallis, Oregon, as the Wildcats fell 78-70 on Saturday, Feb. 25. The stands were packed and cheering on the home team for the 8 p.m. tipoff.
First Quarter
The Wildcat’s starting lineup consisted of Shaina Pellington, Lauren Fields, Jade Loville, Esmery Martinez and Cate Reese. Arizona lost the tipoff against Oregon State, leading to the Beavers scoring the game’s first points from a layup. Reese scored Arizona’s first points of the game, tying it up 2-2.
With 2:07 left in the first quarter, both teams made multiple substitutions to bring fresh legs into the game. The Beavers took the lead to finish the first quarter ahead 19-17. Martinez scored 9 points, Reese scored 6 and Maya Nnaji had 2 points at the end of the quarter. The Wildcats had 6 points in the paint and 2 off the bench while the Beavers had 12 points in the paint and zero off the bench in the first.
Second Quarter
At the start of the second quarter, Oregon State substituted three of their players and Arizona took Madison Conner out of the game to put Reese back on the court. Within the first 20 seconds, Loville made a jumper to tie Arizona back up with Oregon State 19-19.
At the media timeout with 8:49 left in the second quarter, head coach Adia Barnes substituted fifth-year senior Reese out and put in freshman Nnaji.
With 6:46 left in the second quarter, Beavers player Lily Hansford sank a beautiful 3-pointer, making the crowd go crazy. Martinez stepped up and decided to return the favor by making a 3-pointer herself. OSU’s offense put the hammer down while slamming points in the basket, having a 16-point lead at the end of the second quarter, leading 44-28.
Third Quarter
Fields came out ready to go after halftime, scoring a 3-pointer within the first minute of the third quarter. Later on in the quarter, she made another impressive 3-pointer on a fast break off of an opponent turnover. At the media timeout with 4:43 left in the quarter, the score was 48-34 to Oregon State.
Fouls took place left and right. Oregon State made two free throws off of a fast break foul and Arizona’s Paris Clark also made two free throws. Arizona couldn’t seem to catch up to the Beavers, who held a 15-point lead at the end of the third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
The score was 60-45 Oregon State at the start of the fourth quarter. Pellington made a clever layup on a fast break from an opponent turnover. Fields also capitalized on an opponent turnover and took the ball down the court to sink a three making the score 60-52 Oregon State.
Arizona fouled with 7:46 left in the fourth quarter, giving Oregon State two free throw opportunities, in which they made both.
With 3:18 left in the game, Conner made her second 3-pointer within one minute, making it a tight score of 71-66 Oregon State.
Barnes called for a 30-second timeout with 1:14 left in the game, but Arizona gave out so many fouls that the Beavers were able to capitalize on free throws. Oregon State secured the 78-70 win.
This was Arizona women’s basketball team’s last regular season game. They look ahead to March Madness and the Pac-12 tournament.
Follow Delaney Penn on Twitter
