Gibson Reaches 1,000 as Beavers Soar Past Pilots
CORVALLIS, Ore. – Senior Ali Gibson became the 17th player in Oregon State history to reach 1,000 career points, as the No. 20/21 Oregon State women’s basketball team opened the 2014-15 season with an 87-65 victory over Portland Friday evening at Gill Coliseum. Gibson’s historic basket came with 2:34 remaining, as she absorbed a foul to convert a layup. The Woodinville, Calif. native then proceeded to knock down the free-throw to end the night with 1,001 career points.
Gibson filled up the stat-sheet in the game, finishing with 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. She was one of five Beavers in double-figures, as Oregon State (1-0) shot 48.6 percent (34-for-70) from the field in the contest. Junior Ruth Hamblin finished with 20 points on 9-for-12 shooting. The performance marked Hamblin’s third career 20+ point game, and she added six rebounds and five blocks. Fellow junior Deven Hunter scored 11 points to go with four assists and two steals. Junior Jamie Weisner matched her with 11 points, and also pulled down eight rebounds.
“I’m happy with the win,” said Oregon State head coach Scott Rueck. “I loved the way we came out tonight. Portland is a veteran team with a new coach, so there were a lot of unknowns going into this game. I thought we came out and executed really well. I loved the way we played in transition. We came out with great intensity and we moved the ball crisply all night long. I was really proud of our effort and proud of Ali for reaching that milestone. It’s a great achievement. This was a great win for our program.”
Sophomore Gabriella Hanson rounded out the quintet of Beavers in double-figures, scoring 10 points and recording three steals. Sophomore Sydney Wiese finished with eight points and a game-high seven assists. The Phoenix, Ariz. native also hit a pair of three-pointers, moving her up to sixth in the Oregon State record book with 114 in her career, as she passed Anette Mollerstrom. Wiese sits seven three’s shy of Sage Indendi in fifth-place.
Nine different Beavers tallied points in the game. As a team, Oregon State recorded 24 assists in the contest, compared to just eight turnovers. The Beavers also held a 50-24 advantage on points in the paint.
“This is the first time I’ve ever come into a season ranked, and I think we’re excited for that challenge,” Gibson said. “It was really great to have the crowd behind us, and we were really excited to get the season started.”
The Beavers controlled the game from beginning to end, never trailing in the contest, and leading by as many as 33.
Oregon State opened the game with a strong showing on both ends of the floor, as the Beavers scored the first nine points of the matchup to jump out to an early lead. OSU would extend the advantage to 19-4 within the first five minutes, as the Beavers held the Pilots without a field goal for the first 4:57. Oregon State would go on to lead by as many as 26, before taking a 52-32 advantage into the break.
The Beavers shot an outstanding 59 percent (23-39) in first half, including knocking down 54.5 percent (6-for-11) of their attempts from long range. Hamblin shot 6-for-7 in the opening frame, scoring 12 points to go along with four blocks. Hunter scored nine points on 4-for-6 shooting.
The Beavers picked up right where they left off in the second half, opening the frame with a 10-0 run to take a 31-point lead. Oregon State would stretch the edge to 33 with 13:19 remaining. Portland proceeded to cut into the advantage from there, but the outcome was never in doubt, as Oregon State took the 22-point victory.
The Beavers will return to Gill Coliseum on Sunday, when they host Utah State at 2 p.m.
Game Notes:
- Ali Gibson became the 17th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points.
- Marie Güluch made her collegiate debut at the 13:42 mark of the first half. She scored her first career points on a jumper with 9:56 remaining in the first half.
- Jen’Von’Ta Hill made her collegiate debut at the 12:43 mark of the first half. She scored her first career point on a free-throw with 4:02 left in the game.
- With two three-pointers, Sydney Wiese moved into sixth-place on Oregon State’s career three-pointers list with 114, passing Anette Mollerstrom.
- The victory was Oregon State’s 17th-straight win in a season-opener.
- Oregon State’s attendance of 2,024 was its highest for a home opener since 1995.
- The Beavers’ 24 assists is the most the team has had since the Beavers tallied 27 assists against Oregon last season (1/11/14)