The Barometer Online

Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Alicia Carlson / The Daily Evergreen Casey Nash (12) and the Beavers won their final tune-up game before the Pac-10 tournament with a win over WSU Saturday.

PULLMAN, Wash. - Casey Nash poured in a career-high 28 points during her final regular season game as the Oregon State women's basketball team concluded the regular season with a 66-61 victory over Washington State at Beasley Coliseum.

OSU (9-18, 4-14 Pacific-10 Conference) trailed for much of the game, only regaining the lead 57-56 with 2:45 left in the game. Coming out of a timeout, WSU hit one of two free throws to tie the game before Julie Futch hit a lay-in to give OSU a 59-57 lead. WSU would trim the lead to two once again, but Mercedes Fox-Griffin hit five out of six free throws in the final 17 seconds to finish the game.

OSU trailed by as many as 17 in the second half but was able to come back behind multiple scoring runs. Down 29-46 with 14:21 to play, the Beavers went on a 17-9 run to trim the lead to eight. Nash had 10 points during the run. The Beavers also closed the game on a 9-4 run that revolved around solid defense and clutch free throw shooting by Fox-Griffin. The Beavers limited the turnovers, committing a season-low six.

WSU (5-23, 1-17 Pac-10) controlled the first half and most of the second by shooting an unbelievable percentage from the floor and the outside. WSU shot 56 percent from the floor in the first half and 89 percent from the 3-point line during the first 20 minutes. Amanda DuRocher ignited the charge by connecting on her first five three point shots. DuRocher cooled off in the second half and hit only 1-of-7 from the outside.

With her 28 points, Nash now has 1,152 career points and is eighth all-time in total scoring. The Pac-10's leading scorer, Nash has 15 games of 20 or more points on the season.

Jasmine Smith was the other Beaver to score in double figures with 12 and Fox-Griffin added eight points and eight assists. With 174 assists on the season, Fox-Griffin has tied Leilani Estavan for third on OSU's single-season record book for assists.

"I am very proud of how this young team has battled back all season and won three road games in the Pac-10," said OSU head coach LaVonda Wagner. "Like our other Pac-10 wins, we trailed early but were able to come back and win."

OSU returns to action March 2 in the first round of the Pacific-10 Tournament at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif., against the University of Arizona at 8:15 p.m. OSU is 1-1 on the season against the Wildcats. The winner of OSU and Arizona will play the No. 1 seed on March 3 at 5 p.m.

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