OSU Women Come Up Short at Arizona, 65-61

Three Beavers reached double figures in scoring with senior guard Casey Nash’s 15 points leading the way.

Freshman guard Jasmine Smith buried a pair of 3-pointers and had eight points against Arizona. Photo: OSU Athletics

TUCSON, Ariz. - Oregon State’s women’s basketball team suffered a disappointing 65-61 loss to the University of Arizona on Thursday night.

Arizona (9-17; 3-11 Pac-10) came alive in the final 10 minutes as the Wildcats fended off Oregon State (8-14; 3-10 Pac-10) to give head coach Joan Bonvicini her 600th career victory and first against the Beavers since LaVonda Wagner took the helm.

UA went on a 6-0 run to take its first lead (44-42) since just three minutes into the game when Amina Njonkou knocked down a pair of free throws with 9:13 remaining.

The Beavers regained the lead behind a short pull-up jumper from Julie Futch and a steal and ensuing lay-up by Mercedes Fox-Griffin but Arizona rallied right back.

The teams exchanged baskets over the next few minutes until Arizona broke a 54-54 tie when Ashley Whisonant hit a high-arcing 3-pointer from the left corner and then after a Beaver miss, Whisonant buried a pair of free throws to give the Wildcats all the cushion they would need.

Three Beavers reached double figures in scoring with senior guard Casey Nash’s 15 points leading the way.

Nash struggled from the field, connecting on just 5-of-13 field goals and managed just six points in the opening 20 minutes.

Judie Lomax and Fox-Griffin both added 14 points and six rebounds. The trio played all 40 minutes in the game.

Hollingsworth led all players with 20 points as three Wildcats reached double figures.

Oregon State buried seven of its first 10 shots from the field to open the game and freshman guard Jasmine Smith’s 3-pointer gave the Beavers an 11-8 lead with 15:03 on the clock.

Both teams exchanged baskets for the majority of the half with OSU building a 32-25 advantage when Ashley Allen knocked down a 3-pointer from the right wing with just under three minutes remaining.

Hollingsworth knocked down a 3-pointer of her own to pull the Wildcats within four (34-30) at intermission.

Both teams shot 48-percent from the field and Oregon State held a 29-28 rebounding edge, but the Beavers managed to hit just 16-of-24 free throws.

OSU continues its road swing with a 3:00 PM PST game at No. 10 ranked Arizona State on Saturday.

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