Spring Break
Women lose double OT thriller
Beavers have several chances down stretch to upset No. 22 California Bears, but can't convert and fall 67-61 on senior night
Lindsay Schnell
Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Sports
"We came out and fought hard and had a couple different chances to close it out, but definitely the atmosphere is amazing," Nash said.
OSU had multiple chances to win the game, but costly turnovers and key missed free throws did the Beavers in. In two overtimes OSU coughed the ball up five times; in the 40 minutes before that, the Beavers recorded just 11 turnovers.
"We had to come up with some big possessions and we turned the ball over," Wagner said.
The Beavers also struggled against a physical Cal team to get the ball inside to Nash, playing in her last game at Gill Coliseum.
"They grabbed her, they held her and they played her very physical," Wagner said. "And there was no call."
Nash snagged four steals and played nearly all 50 minutes before leaving to a standing ovation in the closing seconds.
"For that kid to come in and put a team on her back, it's been fun to watch and it's taken the league by storm," said Cal coach Joanne Boyle. "They are playing with every team that walks in this door and that's a testament to LaVonda and her program."
It was also the last game for senior guard Ebony Young, a fifth-year senior who has battled through multiple injuries. Young played just three minutes but forced a Cal turnover in the first half and left the game to applause.
It was Cal's 20th win of the season, the first time since the 1991-92 season the Bears (20-7, 10-6 Pacific-10) have recorded that feat. The Beavers (8-17, 3-13) have now lost seven straight, and have just two games remaining on the season, a road up north to play Washington and Washington State this week.
Cal held a slim lead most the first half but a steal and layup by Nash as time expired gave the Beavers an emotional edge heading into the locker room. The Bears' six-point victory matched their largest lead of the game, a 23-17 advantage with 7:55 left in the first half.
OSU had multiple chances to win the game, but costly turnovers and key missed free throws did the Beavers in. In two overtimes OSU coughed the ball up five times; in the 40 minutes before that, the Beavers recorded just 11 turnovers.
"We had to come up with some big possessions and we turned the ball over," Wagner said.
The Beavers also struggled against a physical Cal team to get the ball inside to Nash, playing in her last game at Gill Coliseum.
"They grabbed her, they held her and they played her very physical," Wagner said. "And there was no call."
Nash snagged four steals and played nearly all 50 minutes before leaving to a standing ovation in the closing seconds.
"For that kid to come in and put a team on her back, it's been fun to watch and it's taken the league by storm," said Cal coach Joanne Boyle. "They are playing with every team that walks in this door and that's a testament to LaVonda and her program."
It was also the last game for senior guard Ebony Young, a fifth-year senior who has battled through multiple injuries. Young played just three minutes but forced a Cal turnover in the first half and left the game to applause.
It was Cal's 20th win of the season, the first time since the 1991-92 season the Bears (20-7, 10-6 Pacific-10) have recorded that feat. The Beavers (8-17, 3-13) have now lost seven straight, and have just two games remaining on the season, a road up north to play Washington and Washington State this week.
Cal held a slim lead most the first half but a steal and layup by Nash as time expired gave the Beavers an emotional edge heading into the locker room. The Bears' six-point victory matched their largest lead of the game, a 23-17 advantage with 7:55 left in the first half.
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