Oregon State Knocks Off Arizona, 69-62

Oregon State heads to the Bay Area next week to face California and Stanford.

Mercedes Fox-Griffin matched the OSU record with 15 assists against Arizona on Saturday. Photo: OSU Athletics

CORVALLIS - Mercedes Fox-Griffin matched the school record with 15 assists and Casey Nash matched her career-high with 27 points as Oregon State knocked off University of Arizona, 69-62, in Saturday’s Pac-10 women’s basketball action.

Fox-Griffin’s wrap-around pass that Nash converted into a lay-up with 2:44 left on the clock gave the Beavers (7-8; 2-4 Pac-10) a 10-point (64-54) cushion and put the sophomore guard’s name in the OSU record book.

Fox-Griffin’s 15 assists matched Boky Vidic’s school record -- a feat Vidic accomplished twice, most recently against Arizona in 1995.

The La Jolla, CA native also recorded her first career double-double with 13 points on 4-of-8 shooting.

“Coach talked about us running our offense and executing our plays,” said Fox-Griffin. “In transition I was trying to get in the gaps and find open girls.”

Nash buried 8-of-15 field goals, and 9-of-12 free throws to lead all players with 27 points and earned her ninth career double-double by pulling down 13 rebounds.

Joy Hollingsworth finished with 17 points and six rebounds for the Wildcats (7-12; 1-6 Pac-10).

Ashley Allen’s 3-point field goal with 12:22 to go in the first half ignited the Beaver offense and OSU eventually took a 31-24 lead into the locker room.

Arizona used a 6-0 run to open the second half, but the Beavers called a timeout and responded with a Julie Futch baseline jumper and converted from the field on eight of their next nine possessions to put the game out of reach.

A total team effort, Oregon State dished out 20 assists on 24 field goals in the game.

The Beavers held a 36-33 rebounding edge.

“We made a commitment before this game that we were going to do whatever it took to be a team and be successful,” said OSU head coach LaVonda Wagner. “We were very focused, the crowd was phenomenal, and we would like to thank all our fans for coming out.”

Oregon State heads to the Bay Area next week to face California and Stanford.

The Beavers meet the Golden Bears on Thursday at 7:00 PM in Haas Pavilion

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