The Lady Toppers (8-2) got down early to the hot-shooting Beavers (4-7), who made 6-of-12 shots from 3-point range in the first half and then went 20-of-22 from the free throw line in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Oregon State scored the first seven points of the game to take an early lead. Destiny Salary stopped the Beavers' run with a jumper at the 7:34 mark. Salary made her first four shots of the game and ended the first quarter with 10 of WKU's 12 points. The Lady Toppers were down 17-12 heading into the second quarter.
A pair of free throws by Mariama Sow at the beginning of the second quarter cut Oregon State's lead down to three, but the Beavers responded with an 8-0 run to go back ahead by 11. Salma Kheder made one of two free throws and then followed with a jumper to get WKU back within single digits. Oregon State once again responded with a scoring run, this time 7-0. Khedr and Josie Gilvin made threes as WKU's only points the remainder of the quarter. WKU faced a 36-23 deficit going into the second half.
Salary opened the third quarter on a personal 4-0 run, getting to 14 points in the game. The two teams traded baskets but a 3-pointer from Gilvin cut Oregon State's lead down to seven with 6:59 left in the quarter. From there the Beavers went on a 21-4 run that included eight free throws. Oregon State took a 61-39 lead into the final quarter.
WKU opened the fourth quarter on a 5-0 run, but once again Oregon State responed with a 6-0 run on four free throws and a layup. Mya Pratcher and Mackenzie Chatfield came in off the bench for WKU, hitting four combined threes, three coming from Chatfield.
NOTABLES
- Destiny Salary led WKU in scoring with a season high 21 points. It was the fifth 20-point game of her career and the first of the season.
- Salary is the sixth WKU player to have scored 20 points in a game this season.
- Mackenzie Chatfield added 11 points, her fourth double digit performance of the season.
NEXT UP
The Lady Toppers will conclude the Maui Classic against Nevada on Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. (CT).
How to Follow the Lady Toppers: For complete information on Lady Topper Hoops, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @LadyTopperHoops on X, @LadyTopperHoops on Instagram and on Facebook at facebook.com/WKUWomensBasketball.
