CORVALLIS – Mikayla Pivec had a triple-double of sorts Monday night in Oregon State’s 69-57 win over Pacific in Gill Coliseum.
The senior guard scored 18 points, grabbed 17 rebounds … and at least 10 floor burns. While it won’t go down as a statistical triple-double, the No. 7 Beavers needed all of it to pull off the preseason WNIT quarterfinal win before 4,202.
And that includes the floor burns.
Because this wasn’t Oregon State’s best night, particularly at the offensive end. The Beavers often needed a spark, and Pivec was there to provide it every time.
“It’s fun being Mik’s teammate because Mik just does Mik things,” OSU guard Aleah Goodman said. “Seventeen rebounds from a guard. That’s ridiculous. But that’s what she does. I’m not even surprised.”
Oregon State (2-0) advances to the preseason WNIT semifinals, playing No. 18 DePaul in a 7 p.m. Thursday game in Gill, by riding the shoulders of the 5-foot-10 Pivec. She had almost half the team’s rebounds, plsu two blocks, two steals, and countless plays to keep a possession alive.
There was an incredible hustle play near the end of the second quarter featuring Pivec. After Destiny Slocum made a great save of a ball along the baseline, Pivec twice outhustled Pacific defenders for a rebound, then scored on a three-point play to give the Beavers a 34-24 halftime lead.
“We needed her tonight,” OSU coach Scott Rueck said. “That’s the thing about Mik. She tends to be whatever the team needs. Tonight was not one our better rebounding games. We were undisciplined … but that’s what we needed, and that’s what she gave.
“That is her gift. She has a knack and a desire to make plays when the team needs them. There’s not a bigger heart in our game.”
Oregon State’s win over Pacific, a team picked to finish third behind Gonzaga and Brigham Young in the West Coast Conference, appeared to be easy at first, then became a 35-minute fist fight. The Beavers got plenty of open looks during the first five minutes, and Goodman took advantage by hitting three three-pointers to stake OSU to an 18-10 lead.
But Pacific’s defense took hold, and Oregon State suddenly struggled. By halftime, the Beavers had 15 turnovers, and finished with 23. Rueck admitted with OSU’s experience in the backcourt, the Beavers shouldn’t have that many turnovers.
“We didn’t see the floor very clearly,” Rueck said. “The times we did, it looked easy. … It was hard to us to see the easy play tonight. Looking at the film, I think we’re going to see the missed opportunities.”
The Beavers defense gave Pacific fits, except for forward Brooklyn McDavid. The Tigers shot 22 of 64 from the floor, but stayed in the game thanks to McDavid, who hit 14 of 20 shots and scored 32 points.
“It probably wasn’t our best effort. I think everyone would admit to that,” Rueck said. “But Pacific had a lot to do with it. I was impressed with their defensive intensity.”
Oregon State never trailed in Monday’s game, but didn’t put the Tigers away until Goodman’s corner three-pointer put the Beavers up 65-54 with 1:48 left.
In the long run, Monday’s game could pay dividends. Playing a non-conference schedule against overmatched opponents isn’t going to prepare Oregon State for the rigors of Pac-12 play. Pacific, and likely Thursday’s game against DePaul, and a possible preseason WNIT championship game, will toughen up an OSU roster that has an experienced backcourt but two freshmen forwards in Taylor Jones and Kennedy Brown.
“All these lessons are pivotal for us,” Rueck said. “I thought you saw the toughness in our team come out in the stretch.”
--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel
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