Oregon State overpowered Seattle with its inside advantage on the way to a 89-53 women’s basketball win Thursday night in Gill Coliseum.
Led underneath the basket by 6-foot-9 sophomore Jelena Mitrovic and 6-2 freshman forward Raegan Beers, OSU scored all but two of its 33 baskets on shots inside the arc.
Beers and Mitrovic each had a double-double for Oregon State (2-0). In her second college game, Beers scored 22 points, hitting 9 of 14 shots, and grabbed 11 rebounds. Mitrovic was 6 of 6 from the floor and scored 14 points. The redshirt junior also had 13 rebounds and six blocked shots.
Four Beavers scored in double figures. Talia von Oelhoffen shot 8 of 14 from the floor and scored 20 points, while A.J. Marotte had 18.
The Beavers shot 33 of 64, despite making only 2 of 20 attempts from three-point range. Oregon State outrebounded Seattle 46-28.
Despite the lopsided final score, Seattle gave the Beavers problems for a half. But OSU pulled away with an impressive fourth quarter, outscoring the Redhawks 29-2 during a nine-minute stretch.
Sheridan Liggett led Seattle (0-1) with 13 points. The Redhawks shot 29% (19 of 64) from the floor.
Oregon State was unable to take control during the first half. The teams were tied at 21 after the first quarter, and it was only a late surge by OSU that gave the Beavers a 38-33 halftime lead.
Oregon State slowly pulled away during the third quarter. A layup by Beers with 5:24 left in the third gave the Beavers their first double-digit lead of the game at 48-37.
The Beavers, leading 60-45 after three, stepped on the gas and finished Seattle during the final 10 minutes. Early in the fourth quarter, OSU ran off 16 consecutive points for a 76-48 lead. Then, after two free throws by Seattle, OSU went on a 13-0 run to take a 39-point lead.
Oregon State returns to action next Thursday when the Beavers play host to Eastern Washington at 6 p.m.
–Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
