Arizona comes up just short as Oregon State edges Wildcats 73-70 in 2OT

So many chances just slipped by — or rather rimmed out — for Arizona.

The Wildcats looked as if they had the game locked up in regulation. Then, again at the end of the first overtime and even the had a chance at the end of the second overtime, but just kept coming up short giving Oregon State a 73-70 win in Corvallis Friday night.

Arizona drops to 10-6, 2-2 in the Pac-12. Meanwhile, Oregon State improves to 13-2, 2-2.

All three of Arizona’s Pac-12 games over the last week have come down to a few points and a last second make or miss. The Wildcats lost by one-point to No. 5 Colorado, 75-74 last Friday. They defeated then-No. 15 Utah on Sunday, 71-70 in OT on a pair of free throws from Kailyn Gilbert. And now, this three-point, double-OT loss to Oregon State.

It was a very slim margin that gave the Beavs this one. All the Wildcats needed was one more stop.

The trio of Breya Cunningham, Esmery Martinez and Isis Beh held down sophomore Raegan Beers for 40 minutes, only allowing her to score nine points. Last season’s Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year was a handful and it was obvious that Beh and Cunningham were just worn out in the extra time; that's when Beers went on a tear, collecting 11 of OSU’s 13 points, to finish with 20 overall.

Beh fouled out towards the end of the first extra period, Cunningham at the end of the second.

In the second overtime, OSU pulled ahead on Beers making five of six free throws, plus a layup with 1:42 left, to give OSU a 71-68 advantage. Gilbert got UA within one on an acrobatic put back after missing her first attempt to close the game to one, 71-70, with 1:19 left. Talia von Oelhoffen made Oregon State’s final two free throws.

Arizona had a number of chances to score, but everything they tried missed, including a jumper by Gilbert and a 3-pointer by Williams as time was running out.

At the end of the first overtime, Williams’ 3 rimmed out and at the end of regulation Gilbert’s pullup jumper did the same.

Gilbert led all Wildcats with 22 points, six rebounds and five steals. Esmery Martinez finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Key moment

When Arizona couldn’t finish in regulation, they seemed to be playing from behind in both overtimes. Martinez knocked down a 3-pointer to give UA a 56-52 lead with 1:03 left in regulation. Gilbert made one of two free throws to extend the lead to five points. After a layup, Williams was fouled and hit both free throws to give UA another five-point advantage. The Wildcats defense gave up a second-chance 3-pointer, to cut their lead to two. Gilbert was fouled and again, makes only one free throw for a 60-57 lead. With 19 seconds left, Oregon State’s Timea Gardiner misses a 3-point attempt, OSU gets the rebound. Martinez blocks the second 3-point attempt and OSU gets the rebound. The third attempt with three seconds left by Van Oelhoffen goes down to tie the game at 60. Gilbert’s last second shot misses the mark.

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She said it

Adia Barnes on the loss: "When you're tired a lot of things go out the door. That's not an excuse. (We) have to share the ball better and do what got us there. But honestly, ABCD 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10, the reason why we lost the game was box out, box out, box out, box out, box out rebound. So, that was a difference in the game. If you give a team three opportunities to shoot a 3, a high school team would make that and go into overtime. That is a problem. And we have to work on it and figure out a way to get reps without actually getting reps — just mental reps watching film. Because we're not going to win games if we get out rebounded by 20 something."

Stuffing the stat sheet

Helena Pueyo: 0 points on 3 attempts, 4 steals, 3 rebounds, 3 assists in 49 minutes played

Cunningham: 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 blocks, 1 steal.

Williams: 11 points (6-for-6 from FT line), 2 steals.

The other side

Beers had eight rebounds in the two overtimes to finish with 20. She also had two blocks and three assists. Van Oelhoffen scored 14 points.

By the numbers

25: Oregon State had 25 turnovers with 13 coming in the first half. UA had 16 takeaways.

11:54: The game was tied for nearly 12 minutes. UA only led for 14:56 minutes, but was up by four at halftime.

17: Arizona was out rebounded 48-31. The Wildcats only had eight offensive rebounds.