Three players net double figures in scoring in loss

Corvallis Gazette-Times

DES MOINES, Iowa — Three players reached double figures in scoring but Oregon State dropped a 72-65 nonconference decision to Drake in Sunday’s women’s basketball game.

The back-and-forth opening of the game saw six ties and six lead changes over the first 10 minutes.

Back-to-back 3-point field goals from Ashley Allen and a layup from freshman Stacey Nichols gave the Beavers their largest lead at 25-20 but the advantage was short-lived. Drake reeled off 13 straight points and OSU managed just two Nichols free throws over the final 6:31 of the half.

The Bulldogs went into the locker room with a 38-27 lead.

Drake forward Brandy Dahir led all players at the half with 16 points and the Bulldogs held a 19-14 rebounding edge.

Senior guard Casey Nash scored 10 straight Oregon State points in the middle of the second half to pull the Beavers within 52-45 with 9:54 left.

Dahir responded with six straight points of her own to push Drake’s lead back up to 58-47 with just under eight minutes left.

OSU was unable to cut away at the lead until the final minute when the Beavers closed within 69-63 after a Nash layup. Drake hit just enough free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.

Nash recorded her eighth career double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds to lead OSU. Allen matched her career-high with 15 points and dished out three assists, while Mercedes Fox-Griffin added 13 points and four assists.

Dahir finished with 31 points and 10 rebounds to lead Drake, while Lindsay Whorton added 20 points for the Bulldogs.

OSU committed 17 turnovers on the afternoon compared to just 13 for Drake.

Oregon State opens Pacific-10 Conference action on Thursday against Washington State.