Outlasted by OSU

For the first time in 30 tries, Oregon State defeated the Stanford women’s basketball team at Maples, but it took two overtimes to accomplish the feat on Jan. 8.

In a hard-fought battle between the Pac 12’s two undefeated teams, regulation ended 51-51, the first OT 63-63 and the second OT 72-69 in the visitors’ favor.

Stanford had a chance to clinch the game at the end of regulation when junior guard Brittany McPhee hit a layup to tie the score and was fouled, but she missed the free throw.

More made free throws could have swung the game Stanford’s way. The team made only 17 of 26 FTs, or 65.4 percent. OSU was 11 of 14, or 78.6 percent.

Limited success from beyond the arc hurt, too, with only 4 of 9, or 44.4 percent, going in, with two from senior forward Erica “Bird” McCall and one each from Brittany and senior guard Briana Roberson. Senior guard Karlie Samuelson, usually so reliable from afar, got off no shots from that territory because someone from OSU was glued to her every step of the way.

A few more rebounds might have helped, with 45 by Stanford compared with 50 by OSU.

Brittany goes up for a layup. (San Jose Mercury News photo)

Brittany had missed the Oregon game with a sprained ankle, but she returned to the starting lineup for this one. She was joined by Bird, Karlie, Bri and freshman forward Nadia Fingall.

Anna Wilson, who had only recently returned to action, was in street clothes again.

It was a seesaw game with the score tied five times and the lead changing six times.

Bird and Nadia were the only Cardinal players in double figures with 25 and 10 points, respectively. Bri, Brittany and sophomore guard Marta Sniezek had 9 each. Nine players got into the game.

Next the Cardinal hit the road, playing Utah at 5 p.m. Jan. 13 and Colorado at 1 p.m. Jan. 15. Both games will be televised by the Pac 12 Network.