LAS VEGAS – Oregon State used a career performance from Ally Schimel and 22 points from Jenna Villa to defeat top-seeded LMU 73-67 Monday at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas and advance to the Credit Union 1 West Coast Conference Championship.

The Beavers will defend their conference title on Tuesday at 1 p.m. with the game televised on ESPN2. 

Schimel set career highs in both scoring and three-pointers made, finishing with 21 points in 40 minutes on the floor. The guard connected on 7-of-9 from the field and 5-of-6 from three, adding four rebounds and an assist.

Villa posted 22 points – 15 in the fourth quarter – to lead Oregon State, including a flawless 10-of-10 performance at the free-throw line. She also contributed five rebounds and three assists.

Tiara Bolden contributed 11 points and five rebounds for the Beavers and provided crucial minutes at the point guard spot when Kennedie Shuler was out with first-half foul trouble. 

The teams played to a 13-13 tie after the first quarter before the Beavers began to inch away. OSU led 32-31 at halftime and 45-43 heading into the fourth quarter. The Beavs went on multiple seven-point runs in the middle frames, but LMU responded with spurts each time to get back into the game.

Oregon State outscored LMU 28-24 in the final period to seal the victory. Villa scored seven of the team’s first nine points and an and-one from Schimel pushed their advantage to nine with 4:15 remaining. The Lions chipped away, but free throws from Villa, Shuler and Schimel sealed the deal late. 

Shuler dished out seven assists, tying Leilani Estavan’s 2001-02 single-season mark of 174 for sixth-most in program history. She also grabbed four rebounds and scored seven points.

Lizzy Williamson secured nine rebounds to anchor Oregon State’s front line as the Beavs outrebounded LMU 42-32 on the night. Lara Alonso-Basurto added eight boards, a steal and a block off the bench.

Oregon State shot 46.7 percent from beyond the arc, knocking down 7-of-15 three-point attempts. The Beavers also connected on 81.5 percent of their free throws, going 22-of-27 from the line.

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