Nick Daschel's thoughts on the USC game
Jan 29, 2022 16:56:36 GMT -8
matt90, believeinthebeavs, and 4 more like this
Post by jimbob on Jan 29, 2022 16:56:36 GMT -8
Since this article was listed as O-Live subscriber only I copied and pasted here instead of linking so that everyone that wants to can read it: By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive
CORVALLIS — There’s sometimes a moment during a women’s basketball season when a catalyst presents itself to a team that’s desperately trying to evolve.
A spark that provides the motivational fuel for a run toward something meaningful. Mark down Jan. 28 for Oregon State, as it might be the day the Beavers kick-started their season.
Seemingly without much hope for most of Friday’s game against USC, Oregon State rode a 31-point performance from Talia von Oelhoffen to force overtime. Once there, the Beavers made enough plays to set up a heroic finish, as Kennedy Brown’s offensive rebound and putback as time expired gave Oregon State a 63-61 win before 4,336 at Gill Coliseum.
Oregon State improved to 10-5, so win or lose the Beavers haven’t done anything to their postseason hopes. But for a team trying to figure out how to make a lot of new parts work together, Friday’s win could be the catalyst that prompts greater accomplishments.
Just two days ago, the Beavers weren’t feeling great about anything, following a blah performance in Wednesday’s loss at Washington State. Then Friday, the offense outside of von Oelhoffen did little. To pull out a win that seemed a little unexpected — some might even say lucky — could be the season’s firestarter.
“To manage (Washington State), then come back 48 hours or whatever it’s been and play a team that locks us up. We’re doubting ourselves. So this is a great win for every reason, and it can only help us in every way,” said OSU coach Scott Rueck, who won his 250th game at the school.
It was a game where Oregon State trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half. The Beavers never led by more than three. Excluding von Oelhoffen’s 10 of 21 shooting performance, the rest of the team collectively shot 12 of 49 from the floor.
But when they tallied up the scorebook at game’s end, Oregon State had two more points than USC. It’s because von Oelhoffen had the best offensive game of her two-year OSU career. The Beaver defense — playing their fifth consecutive game without post Taylor Jones — kept USC off balance after a hot start by playing a lot of zone. The Trojans, after a 10 of 17 start to the game, had plenty of long dry stretches that kept OSU within reach.
It came down to a hustle play, where Brown outwrestled USC’s Rayah Marshall for an offensive rebound, that led to the game-winner. Brown took the rebound, pivoted and scored an uncontested layup just as time was about to expire as Gill had its loudest cheer of the 2021-22 season.
“Kind of a blur,” Brown said, when asked to describe the game-winner. “I just knew I needed to get the ball and get a shot up.”
It never comes close to getting to this point without von Oelhoffen. She came out firing from the start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. But von Oelhoffen owned the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of the team’s 19 points to lead the comeback.
Von Oelhoffen is the seventh player during Rueck’s 12-year OSU tenure to score at least 30 points in a game. Her previous high was 25 points earlier this season against Notre Dame.
Rueck said the performance was among the best he’s had at Oregon State.
“It comes with opportunity, but it also comes with a skill set that’s special,” Rueck said. “It’s fun to sit back and watch her work through it, because it’s not easy what she’s doing.”
Rueck pulled von Oelhoffen from the game during the third quarter to talk about some defensive adjustments. But as a walk away, he also said this:
“You might have to will us to this, as a playmaker. That doesn’t mean you’re gonna have to score every time. You’re going to have to make plays and create shots for us. You can do it.”
“And so, she did,” Rueck said.
Von Oelhoffen set the tone for her record night by hitting 4 of 8 shots, including a pair of threes, during the first quarter. The Beavers needed all of it, as USC’s offense was on a first-quarter tear.
“It wasn’t that I was coming in looking to score. Just wanted to get our offense going, whether it’s me scoring or creating for someone,” von Oelhoffen said.
Rueck acknowledged the game’s rough spots, particularly the second quarter, when OSU scored two field goals. But with von Oelhoffen’s brilliance, and the Beavers digging in when necessary during the second half, OSU posted its most memorable win of the 2021-22 campaign.
“They went (down) 10 and this team never quit,” Rueck said. “A sign of things to come from a group that’s still growing together.”
Mark it down. Jan. 28 could be the day Oregon State turned its season in a successful direction.
CORVALLIS — There’s sometimes a moment during a women’s basketball season when a catalyst presents itself to a team that’s desperately trying to evolve.
A spark that provides the motivational fuel for a run toward something meaningful. Mark down Jan. 28 for Oregon State, as it might be the day the Beavers kick-started their season.
Seemingly without much hope for most of Friday’s game against USC, Oregon State rode a 31-point performance from Talia von Oelhoffen to force overtime. Once there, the Beavers made enough plays to set up a heroic finish, as Kennedy Brown’s offensive rebound and putback as time expired gave Oregon State a 63-61 win before 4,336 at Gill Coliseum.
Oregon State improved to 10-5, so win or lose the Beavers haven’t done anything to their postseason hopes. But for a team trying to figure out how to make a lot of new parts work together, Friday’s win could be the catalyst that prompts greater accomplishments.
Just two days ago, the Beavers weren’t feeling great about anything, following a blah performance in Wednesday’s loss at Washington State. Then Friday, the offense outside of von Oelhoffen did little. To pull out a win that seemed a little unexpected — some might even say lucky — could be the season’s firestarter.
“To manage (Washington State), then come back 48 hours or whatever it’s been and play a team that locks us up. We’re doubting ourselves. So this is a great win for every reason, and it can only help us in every way,” said OSU coach Scott Rueck, who won his 250th game at the school.
It was a game where Oregon State trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half. The Beavers never led by more than three. Excluding von Oelhoffen’s 10 of 21 shooting performance, the rest of the team collectively shot 12 of 49 from the floor.
But when they tallied up the scorebook at game’s end, Oregon State had two more points than USC. It’s because von Oelhoffen had the best offensive game of her two-year OSU career. The Beaver defense — playing their fifth consecutive game without post Taylor Jones — kept USC off balance after a hot start by playing a lot of zone. The Trojans, after a 10 of 17 start to the game, had plenty of long dry stretches that kept OSU within reach.
It came down to a hustle play, where Brown outwrestled USC’s Rayah Marshall for an offensive rebound, that led to the game-winner. Brown took the rebound, pivoted and scored an uncontested layup just as time was about to expire as Gill had its loudest cheer of the 2021-22 season.
“Kind of a blur,” Brown said, when asked to describe the game-winner. “I just knew I needed to get the ball and get a shot up.”
It never comes close to getting to this point without von Oelhoffen. She came out firing from the start, scoring 10 points in the first quarter. But von Oelhoffen owned the fourth quarter, scoring 17 of the team’s 19 points to lead the comeback.
Von Oelhoffen is the seventh player during Rueck’s 12-year OSU tenure to score at least 30 points in a game. Her previous high was 25 points earlier this season against Notre Dame.
Rueck said the performance was among the best he’s had at Oregon State.
“It comes with opportunity, but it also comes with a skill set that’s special,” Rueck said. “It’s fun to sit back and watch her work through it, because it’s not easy what she’s doing.”
Rueck pulled von Oelhoffen from the game during the third quarter to talk about some defensive adjustments. But as a walk away, he also said this:
“You might have to will us to this, as a playmaker. That doesn’t mean you’re gonna have to score every time. You’re going to have to make plays and create shots for us. You can do it.”
“And so, she did,” Rueck said.
Von Oelhoffen set the tone for her record night by hitting 4 of 8 shots, including a pair of threes, during the first quarter. The Beavers needed all of it, as USC’s offense was on a first-quarter tear.
“It wasn’t that I was coming in looking to score. Just wanted to get our offense going, whether it’s me scoring or creating for someone,” von Oelhoffen said.
Rueck acknowledged the game’s rough spots, particularly the second quarter, when OSU scored two field goals. But with von Oelhoffen’s brilliance, and the Beavers digging in when necessary during the second half, OSU posted its most memorable win of the 2021-22 campaign.
“They went (down) 10 and this team never quit,” Rueck said. “A sign of things to come from a group that’s still growing together.”
Mark it down. Jan. 28 could be the day Oregon State turned its season in a successful direction.