Oregon State hands Washington women surprising 51-46 loss

It was bound to happen.

Washington just didn't expect it on its court.

Winless in Pac-10 play, Oregon State opened its rematch against Washington shooting 45.8 percent in the opening half and withstood a drop in the second to win 51-46 Saturday at Edmundson Pavilion.

Redshirt freshman Jenna Dixon jumped around with the game ball and was uncertain which way to head to celebrate her team's first victory in more than a month. She finally decided on a jig in front of the visitors' bench as teammates filtered into the stands to get congratulatory hugs from their fans.

"That just seemed like the longest game," said OSU guard Sage Indendi, who led the Beavers with 17 points. "Everybody was really excited and Jenna is so spastic, she doesn't know how to contain it."

A powerful layin by Washington center Regina Rogers off a dish from guard Sarah Morton pulled Washington to 45-41 with 1:43 remaining. But Oregon State made 6 of 12 free throws in the final 1:13.

Rogers led her team with 17 points and 12 rebounds in a season-high 26 minutes off the bench. But UW's offensive leader, Kristi Kingma, was 3 for 11, missing six three-pointers, for eight points, two rebounds and six turnovers.

"We weren't into it, we weren't as ready and prepared as we were for Oregon," said Rogers of Thursday's overtime win in which UW scored a season-high 90 points. "I don't know what happened, if pregame wasn't right or if something happened. I just didn't feel like we were Huskies today. Nothing with the coaches. The players, we weren't as connected."

Washington defeated Oregon State by three in January, closing on a 16-0 run. Finishing has been an issue for OSU, which has lost seven of its 11 Pac-10 games by single digits.

First-year coach Scott Rueck told reporters it was due to the new roster building chemistry. Former coach LaVonda Wagner was fired last summer and senior center El Sara Greer was the only starter who opted to return after allegations of verbal abuse. Rueck fielded a team with Division III stars like Indendi, his former player at George Fox, athletes from other sports and walk-ons.

And when Washington made a familiar rally from a 13-point deficit late in the opening half, Oregon State (8-14, 1-10 Pac-10) didn't flounder despite turnovers.

"Scott had them coming out playing hard," said Washington coach Tia Jackson, whose team shot 28.6 percent from the field in the opening half. "That zone, it just put us to sleep. We went away from our attack mindset and I know going forward, it's not something we're going to let happen again."

Kingma agreed.

"We looked tired. We looked defeated from the early point in the game," she said. "That's something that you cannot have happen."

Jackson insisted, however, that the loss wasn't a defining factor for her team's growth, entering Saturday's game having won three of its past five games. Washington (9-11, 4-7) will play only two of its last six games at home.

"We are going to accept the loss because we don't have a choice," Jackson said. "But we are moving forward, and I want to make sure everybody understands that."

Jayda Evans: 206-464-2067 or jevans@seattletimes.com

OREGON STATE
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Greer	38	3-8	4-11	7-10	2	4	10
Bostick	25	1-4	0-2	1-6	3	3	2
Marchbanks	23	1-5	1-2	3-7	2	5	3
Indendi	34	6-13	0-0	0-2	0	2	17
Martin	38	2-8	5-6	0-2	0	2	9
Dixon	21	2-2	0-0	0-0	0	0	6
Misa	21	2-4	0-3	0-3	0	1	4
	200	17-44	10-24	14-34	7	17	51

Percentages: FG .386, FT .417. Three-point goals: 7-12, (Marchbanks 0-2, Indendi 5-7, Martin 0-1, Dixon 2-2). Team rebounds: 4. Blocked shots: 6, (Greer 3, Marchbanks, Misa 2). Turnovers: 18, (Greer 2, Bostick 3, Marchbanks 3, Indendi 4, Martin 4). Steals: 10, (Greer, Marchbanks 2, Martin 2, Misa 5).

WASHINGTON
min		fgm-a	ftm-a	or-t	a	pf	pts
Barlow	31	1-4	2-2	0-1	1	1	4
Williams	7	0-2	0-0	0-0	1	2	0
Argens	22	2-5	3-4	2-7	1	5	7
Kingma	37	3-11	0-1	1-2	1	4	8
Morton	32	2-6	3-4	0-0	3	2	7
Wetmore	15	1-2	0-0	1-1	0	1	2
Anderson	4	0-0	0-0	0-1	0	1	0
Heard	26	0-4	1-2	1-6	0	1	1
Rogers	26	7-11	3-5	6-12	1	4	17
	200	16-45	12-18	12-33	8	21	46

Percentages: FG .356, FT .667. Three-point goals: 2-12, (Barlow 0-1, Kingma 2-8, Morton 0-2, Wetmore 0-1). Team rebounds: 3. Blocked shots: 7, (Argens 3, Kingma, Heard 3). Turnovers: 18, (Kingma 6, Morton 4, Wetmore 3, Heard 2, Rogers 3). Steals: 8, (Barlow, Argens, Kingma 2, Morton, Heard, Rogers 2).

Oregon State	28	23	—	51
Washington	19	27	—	46

Attendance: 2,132. Officials: Melissa Barlow, Darren Krzesnik, Rick Showers.