CORVALLIS, Ore. – Kennedie Shuler raced to the rim with the game on the line and beat the buzzer to give Oregon State a 59-56 victory over LMU at home. With 5.3 seconds left, Shuler got the ball on the logo and drove straight to the rim. The sophomore absorbed contact from a defender who was tenths of a second late to take a charge and finished the layup to give the Beavs a 58-56 lead. She then finished the and-one to put OSU up 59-56.
The layup capped off a tight game where the Beavs didn’t display their A-game but still managed to secure the win. The team effort was evident as five players contributed nine-or-more points, underscoring the importance of collective resilience. Kelsey Rees led the scoring with 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds, proving to be instrumental for OSU's offense.
Catarina Ferreira and Sela Heide each scored 10 points, tying for the team lead in plus-minus with impressive +11 ratings. Not only did Shuler score nine points, but AJ Marotte matched her tally, showcasing the balanced offensive approach from the Beavers. Marotte also contributed significantly on defense, grabbing eight rebounds and dishing out five assists.
The first half was particularly challenging for Oregon State, as they struggled offensively. The Beavers faced periods of stagnation, resulting from unproductive ball movement and failure to capitalize on open shots. By the end of the half, OSU shot just 30.8 percent, with LMU taking advantage of the opportunity to lead 33-26 at the break. Rees buoyed the opening half with 15 points, generating much of OSU's offense with her sharp shooting; she made both of her three-pointers and sank all five of her free-throw attempts.
Adjustments made during halftime, particularly focusing on ball movement and creating shots inside the paint, yielded positive results for Oregon State. Heide and Marotte led the charge during the third quarter, reversing the game’s momentum. All 10 of Heide’s points were scored in this frame, and Marotte supported her with four points and three assists, as OSU shot an impressive 52 percent from the field.
By the end of the third quarter, the Beavers had transformed their deficit and established a 46-43 lead, setting the stage for Shuler to shine down the stretch. The sophomore emerged as the team’s key player, scoring seven points during the decisive fourth quarter, including the game-winner and another significant shot clock buzzer-beater earlier on. Ferreira and Rees also played their parts, with each making two free throws to place OSU in the position to clinch the win.
This exciting victory marks the culmination of the Beavers' challenging stretch of four games within eight days, showcasing both the physical and mental toughness of the team. Looking ahead, Oregon State prepares to face their Pac-12 rivals, Washington State, on Saturday at 12 p.m. Fans can tune in to the game streamed on ESPN+ to catch more of the Beavers' exciting basketball action.