CORVALLIS, Ore. • With her team struggling on offense, Oregon State guard Destiny Slocum took over.
Slocum scored 20 points and No. 9 Oregon State used a strong fourth quarter to beat 14th-ranked Utah 71-63 on Sunday.
The Beavers were trailing in the second quarter when Slocum was extra aggressive, Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said.
“Destiny put us on her back a little bit there. ... She didn’t hesitate, she just attacked,” he added.
Mikayla Pivec and Aleah Goodman each scored 12 points for the Beavers (19-3, 9-1 Pac-12).
“I was really pleased with our team for rising to the challenge, understanding that we were going to be in a fight,” Rueck said.
Megan Huff had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Sarah Porter added 11 points with three 3-pointers for the Utes (18-3, 7-3), who lost their second straight game to a top-10 team.
“I hate losing, but I’m pretty pleased with where we sit right now,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said.
Utah outrebounded Oregon State 38-33, but the Beavers only committed three turnovers, compared to 11 for the Utes.
The Utes went ahead 11-2 at the four-minute mark thanks to three 3-pointers, and led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter.
Utah stretched the lead to nine points early in the second quarter, but the game was tied at 28-all at the half thanks to Slocum, who had 16 points in the second quarter. She hit several twisting drives to the rim for lay-ins.
A back-and-forth third quarter ended tied at 51-all.
Oregon State used a 14-2 run, capped by a Maddie Washington lay-in with 2:59 remaining, to take a 67-58 lead.
BIG PICTURE
Utah: For the second straight game, the Utes lost in the fourth quarter. Utah was outscored by No. 4 Oregon 27-9 in the fourth quarter and lost 87-65 on Friday. ... All three of the Utes’ losses are to ranked teams.
Oregon State: Washington returned after missing one game, but Goodman started for the second straight contest. Regardless, both played plenty in clutch time, while Slocum sat. Washington, who was important on defense in the post, finished with six points and eight rebounds.
HELD TO 17: Roberts was trying to find ways to get Huff the ball, but the Beavers were keyed in on her. “That’s when you know you’re a good player, when a team does a good job and they hold you to 17,” Roberts said.
UP NEXT
Utah: Hosts Southern California on Friday.
Oregon State: At No. 8 Stanford on Friday.
