The Barometer Online

Issue date: 11/16/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jeffrey Basinger Jeffrey Basinger | THE DAILY BAROMETER Freshman guard Haiden Palmer puts up two points during the Beavers' 71-61 win over Cal Poly Friday night. Palmer had eight points in the game.

By Tori Hill

The Daily Barometer

Friday night was the tip-off of the 2009-2010 basketball season for the Oregon State women's basketball team. The Beavers suited up to play against the Cal Poly Mustangs where they triumphed in a 71-61 victory.

"We wanted to be on the attack," junior guard Talisa Rhea said. "We wanted to make them have to guard us so they'd have to work on both sides of the court."

After the Mustangs won the tip-off, the Beaver defense showed face with an immediate steal by sophomore guard Brittney Kennedy. Kennedy followed her steal with a lay-up, shortly followed by another Mustang turnover resulting in a basket by sophomore forward Kirsten Tilleman, putting the Beavers up 4-0 in only the first minute of play.

Shortly thereafter, Cal Poly's junior guard Desiray Johnston answered Oregon State's short run with a three-pointer of her own, throwing the game tempo into a back-and-forth battle.

After a midrange jumper by the Beavers' freshman guard Kate Lanz, Oregon State went up 23-15 with six minutes to go in the first half. The Mustangs closed the gap 27-21 with three minutes to play, following a field goal by junior guard Rachel Clancy. The Beavers' own junior guard Rhea hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send Oregon State to the locker room with a 35-29 lead at halftime.

At the half, Oregon State was shooting 52 percent from the field and was 6 for 14 from the free-throw line. The Mustangs were 38 percent from the field and 100 percent from the free-throw line, converting six of six free throws.

"I'm a big believer in you've got to control the things that you can control," head coach LaVonda Wagner said. "We shot better from the field than we did from the free-throw line. That is something that is totally mental."

Returning to the hardwood after half time, the battle for the lead continued with Oregon State freshman guard Haiden Palmer making a quick field goal in the first seven seconds of the second half, only to be returned by a Cal Poly field goal by junior forward Kristina Santiago. Following the Mustangs' score by Santiago, the Beavers turned over the ball leading to another jumper by Santiago, bringing Cal Poly within four points with a score of 37-33.

The closest the Mustangs would come to the Beavers would be 48-46 with 12:46 on the clock after Cal Poly's senior guard Brittany Lange scored on a quick layup over the Beavers' defense. Following Lange's score, Oregon State came alive on both ends of the floor and jumped to a 68-59 lead over the Mustangs.

"When we're not getting it done on the offensive end, we can always work hard on the defensive end to get stops and create offense off of our defense," Tilleman said.

The Beavers finished the game 71-61 on a pair of free throws by Tilleman. Oregon State shot 52 percent from the field in the second half and 53 percent overall. Wagner's squad shot a mere 50 percent from the charity stripe in the second half and 46 percent overall. Friday night's game marked the first time Wagner's Oregon State team has shot below 70 percent from the free-throw line.

Talisa Rhea led the Beavers with 20 points and two steals. Also contributing was Tilleman, who had 19 points and eight boards, and Palmer who added 8 points and four rebounds.

"We have young minds and young moments on the floor, and we have to grow up pretty quickly to get done what we want done," Wagner said. "We've got to continue to grow and understand how to play the game."


Tori Hill, sports writer

sports@dailybarometer.com

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