PULLMAN, Wash. (Interstat) — Tiara Bolden scored 24 points to lead Oregon State to a 78-64 victory over Washington State in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum. The Beavers built a commanding 42-23 halftime lead and maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the second half. Jenna Villa added 17 points for Oregon State, which improved to 12-5. Eleonora Villa led Washington State with 16 points. The Cougars, who committed 11 turnovers, fell to 3-15. Oregon State shot 50.8% from the field and scored 15 points off turnovers to secure the road win.

CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — The Oregon State Beavers used a dominant first quarter to set the tone and never looked back, defeating the Washington State Cougars 78-64 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Beasley Coliseum. The Beavers, improving to 12-5 overall, raced out to a 24-12 lead after the opening period and maintained a double-digit advantage for nearly the entirety of the contest. The Cougars, who fell to 3-15, could not overcome the early deficit despite a more competitive second half. Oregon State’s victory was fueled by a highly efficient offensive performance and a stifling defensive effort that capitalized on Washington State mistakes. The Beavers scored 78 points on just 67 possessions, translating to an offensive rating of 116.1, while holding the Cougars to an offensive rating of 91.5 on 70 possessions. A key factor was Oregon State’s ability to protect the basketball, committing only four turnovers while forcing 11 from Washington State. The Beavers converted those miscues into 15 points. The most important part of the game was Oregon State’s immediate and assertive start. The Beavers opened the game on a 10-2 run, with Tiara Bolden scoring six of those points. Washington State struggled to find any offensive rhythm against Oregon State’s disciplined defense, missing seven of its first nine field goal attempts and committing three early turnovers. By the time the first media timeout arrived with 4:19 remaining in the quarter, Oregon State had already built a 16-6 lead. The Beavers’ defensive pressure and crisp offensive execution, shooting 10-of-17 from the field in the period, effectively decided the contest’s trajectory within the first six minutes, allowing them to play from ahead with confidence for the remaining three quarters. Bolden, a guard from Eugene, Ore., led all scorers with 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting in 31 minutes. She was instrumental in the early surge and added two assists. Forward Jenna Villa of Arlington, Wash., provided strong support with 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds. Guard Kennedie Shuler of Gresham, Ore., orchestrated the offense with seven assists while adding 10 points, six rebounds, a block and two steals. Washington State was led by guard Eleonora Villa of Lissone, Italy, who scored 16 points and dished out five assists. Forward Charlotte Abraham of Cambrai, France, contributed 10 points and six rebounds. The Cougars shot an identical 28-of-65 from the field as Oregon State but were hampered by a lack of free throw opportunities, attempting just two for the game compared to 13 for the Beavers. After leading 42-23 at halftime, Oregon State saw its lead trimmed slightly in the third quarter as Washington State found some scoring touch, putting up 22 points. However, the Beavers matched that output with 24 points of their own in the period, maintaining a 66-45 advantage heading into the fourth. The Cougars outscored Oregon State 19-12 in the final frame but never drew closer than the final 14-point margin. Oregon State’s interior presence was notable, outscoring Washington State 36-30 in the paint and blocking two shots. Reserve center Nene Sow of Brussels, Belgium, provided valuable minutes with nine points, six rebounds and a block. The Beavers will look to continue their momentum when they host Seattle on Saturday. Washington State returns to action Saturday at home against Santa Clara. The game was played before an announced crowd of 886 at Beasley Coliseum in Nebraska City, Neb.

Oregon State, Washington State Meet in Nonconference Clash NEBRASKA CITY, Neb. (Interstat) — A surging Oregon State women’s basketball team will look to extend its win streak against a struggling Washington State squad when the programs meet in a nonconference matchup Thursday at Beasley Coliseum. The Beavers (11-5) enter on a five-game winning streak, most recently defeating Pacific 81-61 last Friday. Washington State (3-14) snapped a six-game skid with a 73-69 road win at Seattle last Sunday. Oregon State is powered by guard Jenna Villa, who is averaging 20.4 points per game during the team’s current streak. She scored a career-high 32 points in just 29 minutes against Pacific. Over her last seven games, Villa has scored in double figures each time, including a 24-point, six-rebound performance in a win at San Francisco. The Cougars will counter with center Alex Covill, who is coming off a dominant performance. In the victory over Seattle, Covill recorded 26 points, 10 rebounds and a remarkable seven blocked shots. Her presence inside will be a key factor against an Oregon State team that has found consistent offensive rhythm. The Beavers’ recent success has been built on defense, holding opponents to 61 points or fewer in four of their five consecutive wins. Washington State has struggled offensively for much of the season, failing to reach 70 points in 13 of its 17 games. This game is part of a multi-team event at a neutral site. Oregon State will continue its trip to face Seattle on Saturday. Washington State will host Santa Clara on Saturday. Thursday’s contest tips off at 7 p.m. Eastern.