Osu Women Trip WSU Former State B Standout Pierce Keys Beavers In Victory Over Cougars

Sissel Pierce, a former Wishkah Valley High School star best remembered for guiding the Loggers to the State B girls basketball title two seasons ago, brought her unusual name and equally unforgettable prowess back to Eastern Washington Thursday night.

The 6-foot-4 freshman from Aberdeen, now wearing Oregon State colors, led a Beavers rally and helped hand Washington State its eighth loss in Pac-10 play 67-60. Pierce, a reserve forward, put OSU ahead 58-57 on a layup with 4:22 left in the game. She scored again at 2:01 and finished with a career-high 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting.

It was the first time WSU (6-13, 2-8) lost to the Beavers (10-9, 4-6) at Pullman since the 1988-89 season.

And it didn’t have to be that way, had the Cougars played as well in the second half as they did in the first. In the opening 20 minutes, WSU caused 21 turnovers to the Beavers’ eight. They also erased an eight-point deficit with a 14-1 run and carried a 34-29 lead into the half.

WSU forward Amy Saneholtz led the charge with 13 points in the first half and finished with a game-high 22. Center Yvonne Kunze also was effective inside, scoring 10 points in the first half and finishing with 16.

“I’m disappointed in the way we lost,” Washington State coach Harold Rhodes said. “After we did that well in the first half, we just didn’t play with the same intensity in the second half.”

The Cougars only forced seven turnovers in the second half while committing 10. And their shooting dropped from 41 percent to 32 as they connected on just 8 of 25 shots.

“We came out in the second half and scored on the first two or three possessions,” said Rhodes, whose team lead by as many as 11 points, 40-29, with 18:24 left. “And then we took a back seat to Oregon State.”

WSU displayed an unaggressive and sloppy style down the stretch. In the final 8:46, WSU scored on two baskets by Kunze and a pair of free throws by Saneholtz and turned the ball over five times.

“Our guards need to be more responsible. They let us down,” Rhodes said with a tone of disgust in his voice.

Rhodes went on to say the shot selection also was poor and noted, “Laura Wilder (2-of-13 shooting) was throwing up some garbage.”

WSU had a chance to tie the game at 63 with 18 seconds left, but usually reliable long-range shooter Joanna Smith watched as her 3-point attempt rattled in and out.

OSU drained 5 of 6 free throws in the final 32 seconds, this after Pierce had put the Beavers ahead by four, 62-58.

“I said to myself, ‘I gotta get that ball.’ We needed to win this game,” said Pierce.

Pierce originally signed with Montana State, but after former Bobcats coach Judy Spoelstra took the OSU job, Pierce decided to sit out last year and hook up with Spoelstra at OSU. She also said although Thursday night’s game was a big thrill, there still was nothing quite like winning the State B tournament.

Oregon State 67, Washington State 60

Oregon State (8-11) - Walsh 3-3 0-0 6, Lelas 7-11 1-3 15, McAllister 2-9 2-2 6, Watts 3-6 1-2 7, Barrett 1-2 3-4 5, Scoble 0-0 0-0 0, Morris 4-8 3-4 11, Pierce 4-4 3-3 11, Busen 0-1 6-6 6. Team totals - 24-44 19-24 67.

Washington State (8-11) - Saneholtz 7-13 8-9 22, Wilder 2-13 2-2 6, Kunze 7-12 2-2 16, Hyett 1-4 0-0 3, Smith 3-9 0-0 7, Ross 0-0 0-0 0, Evans 2-3 0-0 4, Ludwicki 1-3, 0-0 2, Rubio 0-2 0-0 0. Team totals - 23-59 12-13 60. Halftime - WSU 34, OSU 29. 3-point goals - OSU 0-5 (McAllister 0-4, Watts 0-1), WSU 2-8 (Hyett 1-1, Smith 1-6, Ludwicki 0-1). Fouled out - none. Rebounds - OSU 34 (Lelas 9), WSU 24 (Hyett 6). Assists - OSU 10 (Walsh 4), WSU 15 (Hyett 9). Steals - OSU 5 (Walsh, Barrett 2), WSU 13 (Wilder 5). Turnovers - OSU 28 (McAllister, Morris 6), WSU 18 (Ludwicki 7). Total fouls - OSU 14, WSU 20. Technical - None. Attn. - 450.

, DataTimes