LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Concluding the 2024-25 season in the quarterfinals of the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Championship, the University of San Francisco (15-16, 11-9 WCC) dropped a heartbreaking 61-59 loss to Oregon State (17-15, 12-8 WCC) Sunday afternoon at Orleans Arena.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Jumping out to an early lead, San Francisco scored the game's first five points, highlighted by a Cami Fulcher three-pointer for a 5-0 advantage at 8:22.
• Trailing 7-3, Oregon State responded with five straight tallies to gain an 8-7 advantage at the 4:32 mark of the opening quarter.
• After Angeliki Ziaka knocked down a long three-pointer, putting the Dons back in front, 10-8, the Beavers recorded the final four points and led 12-10 at the end of the first quarter.
• Oregon State dominated the second half, opening a double-digit advantage at 4:41 following two Catarina Ferreira free throws. At the end of the second, the Beavers utilized an 8-2 coring run to balloon the lead to 14, 33-19.
• The Beavers opened the second with a three-point play, expanding the margin to 35-19, as Kennedie Shuler was fouled and knocked down a driving layup at 9:10.
• Using an 11-3 scoring run in the following six minutes, Werth and Ziaka combined for three three-pointers while Fulcher knocked down a mid-range jumper to trim the deficit to eight, 41-33 midway through the quarter.
• The scoring continued for San Francisco, as the green and gold kept up with Oregon State near the end of the third quarter. Trailing by 10, 43-33 at the 3:31 mark, six straight free throws for the Dons brought the contest to within five, 43-38, with under two minutes left in the period.
• Oregon State ended the third quarter strong, as Sela Heide posted the final three points to push the Beavers' advantage to eight, 46-38.
• Kickstarting the rally to begin the fourth quarter, Aya Kéita and Mia Vukšic combined for six consecutive points to bring the Dons to within two, 46-44, with less than two minutes off the clock. Narrowing the margin to one, Ziaka knocked down three free throws at 7:32, trimming the deficit to 48-47.
• Gaining its first lead since the first quarter, Werth gave San Francisco a two-point advantage, 55-53, with two free throws at the 4:37 mark of the fourth.
• Going back and forth in the back half of the fourth, Oregon State leveled the score at 59 when Kennedie Schuler connected on two free throws with 1:21 left.
• Forcing a shot clock violation with 23 seconds remaining, the Beavers won the game with a last-second floater from Kelsey Rees at the buzzer, 61-59.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• Three players recorded double-figure scoring, with Werth leading with 18 points. On the glass, Werth posted a team-best eight rebounds and dished out three assists.
• Along with Werth, Ziaka and Vukšic found success off the bench, scoring 14 and 13 points, respectively.
• As a team, San Francisco outpaced Oregon State in bench points (27-17), second-chance points (8-0), and points off turnovers (16-9).

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SPONSOR THE DONS:
The University of San Francisco Athletics Department would like to acknowledge and thank our primary sponsor – Provident Credit Union – for their continued support of USF Athletics. Interested in sponsoring the Dons? Please contact Frank Allocco, the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director of External Relations, at fallocco@usfca.edu or at (415) 422-4561.