The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Peter Strong Junior guard Ashley Allen scored all seven of her points in the first half of OSU's win Sunday at Gill.

Credit this one to the defense.

Led by stifling pressure and savvy play, the Oregon State women's basketball team outscored UC-Davis 13-2 in the last 2:11 to pull out a 66-56 win Sunday afternoon at Gill Coliseum. The Beavers were led by senior shooting guard Casey Nash, who scored a team-high 21 points on 8-16 shooting. Point guard Mercedes Fox-Griffin, a sophomore, scored a career-high 13 points and dished out seven assists.

"I'm proud of the way we defended down the stretch," said OSU coach LaVonda Wagner.

Jasmine Smith hit a 3-pointer to put the Beavers up 56-54, sparking an 11-0 OSU run. Nash and freshman Judie Lomax then scored layups inside and OSU went on to hit six of seven free throws to seal the win.

"We knew we had to attack them back on the offensive end," Wagner said. "And if we didn't make the shot we needed to get to the free throw line."

OSU trailed by as much as nine early in the game, but grabbed the lead when Fox-Griffin drove the lane and hit a floater as time expired at the end of the first half. The Aggies and Beavers traded buckets to start the second half, with OSU going up 34-28 before UC-Davis went on a 7-0 run. Nash - who shot just 3-8 in the first half - found her shooting touch inside, scoring six straight points for OSU to give the Beavers a 49-47 advantage.

"Coming into the game we knew they were going to move into a zone and we needed to get looks for Casey inside," Wagner said. "I'm really proud of the way we executed."

With one minute to play and the Beavers up 58-54, UC-Davis tried to inbound the ball from the sideline. But Lomax, a freshman who has scored in double digits in every game this season, stepped in front of the pass and knocked it away, finishing the layup at the other end to give OSU a six-point cushion.

"I told Judie to get the ball back," Wagner said, referring to the play before when Lomax had turned it over in the halfcourt offense. "It was a pretty gutsy move to step up to halfcourt and take it all the way."

"It really crushes a team ... when you score on them like that," Fox-Griffin said.

Lomax finished the game with 10 points and seven rebounds, and Smith chipped in with 13 points. The Aggies were led by sophomore guard Haylee Donaghe, who scored 21 points before fouling out at the end. The Beavers shot 46.2 percent on the night.

OSU returns to action Sunday when the Beavers host Birmingham Southern at 4 p.m. at Gill.

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