Slaughter's Stance: Beaver WBB faces crucial test in UCLA
On Friday evening, Beaver fans will face a unique conundrum. Which game will they watch?
Due to Pac-12 scheduling, OSU women’s basketball will tip off at 6:00 p.m. at UCLA and OSU men’s basketball will tip off at 7:00 p.m. at home vs Oregon.
Usually, scheduling quirks don’t happen like this between the two basketball programs, but on Friday night, Beaver fans will have to get creative with how to keep tabs on two very important games.
Before Wayne Tinkle’s squad tangles with the rival Ducks, Scott Rueck’s squad, who is ranked No. 16 in the nation, will face their biggest challenge since Notre Dame came to town back in November. Since the Notre Dame loss in Gill Coliseum where the Beavers had control of the game, the Beavers have only lost one other game and that came in Durham NC. at the hands of Duke.
While the Civil War on the men’s side of things is crucial as far as Beaver sports goes this weekend, the lady Beavs’ matchup with the Bruins could be crucial in determining the winner of the Pac-12 conference.
No. 14 UCLA is loaded with star playmakers including point guard Jordin Canada, who is near the top of every offensive statistical category. In addition to the dynamic Canada, head coach Cori Close also has great playmakers in Kelli Hayes and Monique Billings.
UCLA has been a thorn in the side of the Beavers for several years now. The Beavers haven’t won in Pauley Pavilion since 2015. In each of the last two seasons, the Beavers have played the Bruins early and on the road and it’s resulted in one of the more lopsided defeats in recent memory for Rueck’s squad.
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In 2016, OSU lost 51-71 and in 2017, they lost 56-66. Last year, the Beavers had the Bruins on the ropes but couldn’t finish due to UCLA’s trapping defense and length. OSU has had the final laugh both years as the Beavers have defeated the Bruins twice in Gill Coliseum and twice in the Pac-12 tournament during the same span. But there is something about Pauley that hasn’t agreed with the Beavers in the past several seasons.
This UCLA squad is really really good. Like Elite Eight or Final Four good and this will be a tremendous test for a relatively young Beaver team that is starting to find their groove. The Beavers are still working out some of the kinks of a relatively new team that features sophomore guard Mikayla Pivec and senior center Marie Gülich as the team leaders.
Since the Beavers and Bruins play twice this season, it’s too early to say that the winner of this game will win the Pac-12 crown, but one thing’s for sure, the Beavers are the underdogs this season and will have to fight and scrap to win their fourth straight conference title. In addition to UCLA, both Oregon and Stanford will have something to say about the Pac-12 crown as well.
This isn’t a do or die game for the Beavers, but if they are able to come on top they will put themselves in a position to gain ground on the Bruins and prove to the Pac-12 and national pundits that they don’t rebuild, they reload. Look for the Beavers to feature Gülich down low and work the inside out game to victory.
OSU wins 68-64.