The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/19/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Cory Reed Casey Nash scored 25 points against No. 22 Cal Saturday night, but it wasn't enough as the Beavers lost a heartbreaking double overtime game. It was Nash's last game in Gill.

Ashley Walker and the Cal Bears knew it would take a lot to slow senior guard Casey Nash.

"Guarding Casey is a team effort," Walker said. "It takes all five people."

Nash scored 25 points, but went cold in two overtimes, hitting just one field goal in the final 10 minutes of play as the Beavers lost to No. 22 Cal 67-61 Saturday in Gill.

A baseline 3-pointer by Ashley Allen put the Beavers up 52-50 with 2:26 left in regulation. Cal then went inside to Devanei Hampton - who finished with 15 points and eight rebounds - who scored a tough layup over two OSU defenders to tie the score. After an OSU turnover, the Bears called a timeout to diagram a play with 34.8 seconds remaining on the game clock and 26 on the shot clock. But the Beavers played suffocating, lockdown defense and refused to let Cal get a shot. OSU couldn't convert on the other end though, and the teams headed to overtime.

Oregon State went up 57-54 on two free throws from Nash, but Cal answered with a steal and layup from Keanna Levy. OSU point guard Mercedes Fox-Griffin then hit one of two from the foul line to put the Beavers ahead 58-56. Walker scored inside for Cal on the next possession and Fox-Griffin couldn't get a shot off as time ran out, forcing another overtime.

"It is what it is," said OSU coach LaVonda Wagner. "We had opportunities four or five times. It didn't come up on the strong side of what we wanted, but we battled and they're a top 25 team and we're not and I thought we executed and played as well as we could."

OSU scored the first points in the second overtime when Judie Lomax hit one of two free throws to put the Beavers up 59-58, but Cal had an answer every time. The Bears pounded the ball inside to Hampton, who finished 7-for-13 from the field. Nash hit an 8-footer with 3:14 left, but it would be the last points OSU scored. The Bears took control midway through the second extra period, going up 64-61 after a pair of free throws from Walker. They sealed the win with another layup from Walker inside and a free throw from Hampton.

Continued...

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