Women’s basketball

By Brooks Hatch
Corvallis Gazette-Times

Before every game the Oregon State women’s basketball team chooses a word that illustrates that day’s objective (other than “win,” of course).

Sunday’s selection was “believe,” and OSU (3-1) realized that goal by outscoring UC Davis (1-5) 13-2 in the final two minutes, 11 seconds for a well-earned 66-56 victory before a Gill Coliseum crowd of 863.

“Toward the end, we looked at each other and said, ‘We’re getting it done,’ ” said sophomore point guard Mercedes Fox-Griffin, whose two assists, a steal and two points fueled the decisive stretch run. “(Senior Casey Nash) told all of us, ‘We are not losing this game!’

“We believed we could get it done, and we did.”

Freshman Jasmine Smith started the rally with a 3-pointer from the left corner to give the Beavers a 56-54 lead with 2:11 left. OSU got a stop, then Fox-Griffin escaped a scramble and found Nash open for a lay-in just before the shot clock expired for a 58-54 edge at 1:13.

“Time was going down,” Fox-Griffin said in describing the last of her seven assists. “I was looking (at) Jasmine for a 3-pointer but Casey had her defender) sealed.

“It crushes teams when you score on them in the last five seconds.”

After a time out, freshman Judie Lomax stole an in-bounds pass near midcourt and made a layup for a 60-54 advantage with 56 seconds remaining. OSU then made 6 of 7 free throws in the final 45 seconds to send the Aggies to their fourth consecutive road loss.

“It was a pretty gutsy move, to get up at half-court, step in the passing lane, take it to the rim and finish,” OSU coach LaVonda Wagner said of Lomax’s steal. “Each day we’re talking about being mentally strong, mentally tough, and being able to get hustle play.

“(The Aggies) played very hard. In the first half they got to the loose ball and long rebounds, they beat us in our own game. We turned that around in the end.”

Neither team led by more than three points in the final 15 minutes until OSU pulled away late. There were 14 lead changes, and ties at 43, 45, and 47; the Aggies’ last lead was 54-53 after a Heather Bates stickback.

Then Smith hit her third 3-pointer. The freshman showed absolutely no hesitation in taking a big shot, which was delivered completely in rhythm after Fox-Griffin’s pass.

“Most of our team is freshmen so if they shied away (from tough shots) we’d be in big trouble,” Wagner said. “We talk about being able to have the confidence in yourself, and believing in yourself.

“I think we believed, no matter what. I looked in their eyes and they believed they were going to win that game, and they did.”

Nash had 21 points, Smith and Fox-Griffin 13, Lomax 10. Fox-Griffin had seven assists and Ashley Allen, who tweaked her ankle on a rebound with 1:46 remaining, had five assists.

“We had 15 assists on 25 baskets, seven by our point guard, (who was) three away from a double-double,” Wagner said. “That’s a great night. As the point guard goes, your team goes. She’s your coach on the floor.”