LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — Loyola Marymount edged Oregon State 55-51 in a women’s basketball game Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions used a strong first quarter and clutch fourth-quarter shooting to secure the win. Oregon State’s Kennedie Shuler led all scorers with 12 points. Carly Heidger paced Loyola Marymount with 14 points. The Beavers struggled offensively, shooting just 44.2% from the field and committing 14 turnovers. Loyola Marymount capitalized with 11 points off those turnovers and outrebounded Oregon State 12-4 on the offensive glass. The Lions improved to 10-7 overall. The Beavers fell to 13-6.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by missed opportunities and a decisive final stand, the Loyola Marymount Lions edged the Oregon State Beavers 55-51 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion. The Lions, who improved to 10-7, never trailed after the opening minutes but could not shake the Beavers until the final seconds, relying on a critical defensive sequence in the last half-minute to preserve the victory. Oregon State, which fell to 13-6, saw a three-game winning streak snapped despite holding Loyola Marymount to 34.4% shooting from the field. The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 30 seconds. Trailing 55-51, Oregon State’s Kennedie Shuler drove for a potential layup that would have cut the deficit to two, but her attempt was emphatically blocked by Loyola Marymount’s Maya Hernandez with 48 seconds remaining. Hernandez secured the defensive rebound, forcing the Beavers to foul. After Loyola Marymount missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession, Oregon State had one final chance with 22 seconds left. The Beavers worked the ball to Jenna Villa for a potential game-tying three-pointer, but her shot from the wing missed. A scramble for the offensive rebound resulted in a held ball, with the possession arrow favoring Loyola Marymount with just six seconds left, effectively sealing the outcome. The game was a tale of contrasting efficiencies. Loyola Marymount’s offense, while inefficient inside the arc, was carried by perimeter shooting, connecting on 8 of 15 three-point attempts. Oregon State, conversely, dominated the paint with 28 points but made only 3 of 12 from deep and compounded their problems by converting just 10 of 16 free throws and committing 14 turnovers. Loyola Marymount built its foundation early, hitting three first-quarter three-pointers to take a 19-12 lead. Oregon State responded with an 18-point second quarter, fueled by six points from Tiara Bolden, to narrow the gap to 31-30 at halftime. The third quarter was a grind, with the Lions outscoring the Beavers 13-15 to maintain a slim 44-45 edge entering the final period. The fourth quarter saw Oregon State’s offense stagnate, managing only six points on 3-of-11 shooting. The Beavers had several possessions to tie or take the lead but came up empty, culminating in the late block by Hernandez and the missed three-pointer by Villa. Carly Heidger led Loyola Marymount with 14 points, while Jess Lawson also scored 14 and grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. The Lions won the battle on the glass decisively, with a 12-4 advantage in offensive rebounds leading to 11 second-chance points. For Oregon State, Kennedie Shuler of Gresham, Oregon, filled the stat sheet with 12 points, six assists and a block in 34 minutes. Jenna Villa of Arlington, Washington, played all 40 minutes and contributed 13 points. Tiara Bolden of Eugene, Oregon, added 11 points. National Statistical’s ELO system had projected Oregon State with an 84.90 percent probability to win, making the result a significant upset. The Lions’ ability to defend without fouling late and capitalize on a handful of key outside shots proved the difference in a game where neither team found consistent offensive rhythm. Oregon State looks to rebound quickly, traveling to face Pepperdine on Saturday. Loyola Marymount continues its homestand with a game against Pacific, also on Saturday.

LOS ANGELES (Interstat) — A surging Oregon State team looks to extend its winning streak when it visits Loyola Marymount in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup Thursday night at Gersten Pavilion. The Beavers (13-5) have won seven straight games, their latest a dominant 68-38 victory over Seattle on Jan. 10. Guard Kennedie Shuler has been instrumental during the run, averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 assists over the last eight contests. In the win over Seattle, Shuler scored 18 points and dished six assists. Oregon State’s defense has been a hallmark, holding opponents to an average of 57.1 points during the streak. Jenna Villa, who had a team-high 19 points against Seattle, provides additional scoring punch. The Lions (9-7) are coming off an 83-78 overtime road win against Pepperdine on Jan. 8, snapping a two-game skid. Guard Andjela Matic led the way with 20 points in that victory and has been a consistent offensive force, scoring in double figures in seven of her last eight games. Loyola Marymount has shown resilience, with three of its last five games going to overtime, including a double-overtime loss at Gonzaga. Maya Hernandez, who erupted for 21 points against Pepperdine, offers a secondary scoring threat. The game pits Oregon State’s stout defense against a Lions squad averaging 73.4 points per game at home this season. The Beavers will aim to control the tempo, while the Lions seek to leverage their home-court advantage and offensive balance to disrupt Oregon State’s rhythm. This is the final nonconference tune-up for both programs before resuming their respective league schedules.