No. 10 UCLA struggled without their top scorer Charisma Osborne, allowing Oregon State to exploit this vulnerability and secure a win. Raegan Beers led the charge for the Beavers with 22 points and 15 rebounds, securing a 77-72 victory. This win marked Oregon State’s first triumph over a ranked team this season.
UCLA (13-2, 2-1 Pac-12) saw its six-game winning streak come to an end. Osborne, who averages 18.0 points and 6.1 rebounds, injured her left shoulder in the fourth quarter of Friday’s win against No. 17 Oregon. She was sidelined on Sunday, her arm in a sling, leaving a huge gap in both offense and defense.
“She’s our leading scorer, but we missed her defense more,” said UCLA coach Cori Close. “She’s one of the top defenders in the country.” The game was tight in the final minutes. After Londynn Jones’ 3-pointer put UCLA ahead 64-63 with 3:37 left, Beers took control.
She scored 16 points in the second half, including a crucial layup with 1:55 remaining, pushing Oregon State ahead 67-64. Her defense was pivotal, blocking a UCLA shot in the final minute.
Gina Conti’s 3-pointer brought UCLA within three points with 5.5 seconds left, but Talia von Oelhoffen sealed the win with two free throws. “It means a lot. UCLA is a really good team,” said Beers, highlighting the importance of the victory.
Von Oelhoffen and Bendu Yeaney each contributed 15 points for the Beavers. For UCLA, Kiki Rice scored 20, Conti added 19, and Jones finished with 17.
Oregon State coach Scott Rueck noted that their strategy remained unchanged despite Osborne’s absence. “They’ve got so many good players, especially at the guard position. While you can’t completely replace Charisma Osborne, we knew they would be formidable.”
UCLA struggled offensively, shooting just 37.9%. Without Osborne, the Bruins faltered, marking their first game of the season without her. Their only other loss was to No. 1 South Carolina.
Oregon State started strong and maintained control for most of the game. This win was crucial, especially after previous losses to ranked teams. Senior guard Bendu Yeaney, who scored 15 points, surpassed 1,000 career points.