Oregon State Women Shock Gonzaga with Last-Second Victory

LAS VEGAS – Oregon State‘s women’s basketball team pulled off a stunning upset against top-seeded Gonzaga on March 10, 2025, winning 63-61 in the West Coast Conference Tournament semifinals. With only 0.8 seconds left on the clock, sophomore guard Kennedie Shuler drove past Gonzaga’s defense to score the decisive shot, sending the No. 4-seed Beavers to the championship game.

The Beavers, who improved to 19-15 overall, had narrowly defeated San Francisco 61-59 in the quarterfinals before overcoming the Bulldogs to claim their second consecutive close victory in the tournament. Gonzaga, finishing their season with a 22-10 record, previously led the game by seven points in the fourth quarter following a jumper by Allie Turner.

Despite the Bulldogs’ commanding position, the Beavers retaliated with an 11-2 scoring run, culminating in Shuler’s clutch basket. Oregon State was led by Catarina Ferreira, who contributed 19 points in the match, while Shuler added four points and four assists to the win.

Gonzaga had one final opportunity to tie the game but star forward Yvonne Ejim, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer earlier in the game, missed a shot around the rim as the buzzer sounded. Ejim finished with 18 points, raising her career total to 2,319 points, surpassing the previous record of Drew Timme.

Gonzaga’s head coach reflected on the hard-fought match: “It was a great game for fans and coaches. Both teams played hard, they played really well… I think it’s been the most proud I’ve been at the improvement a team has made in a single season; it’s pretty remarkable.”

Shuler’s game-winning shot came just after the Beavers’ string of close calls in the tournament. Reflecting on her performance, she stated, “I’m just really grateful to wear the Zags jersey — whatever opportunity that is and comes, I think that’s the real joy in it.”

Oregon State’s tight defense, known for its lockdown approach, has been instrumental throughout the season, allowing an average of only 59.5 points per game. The Beavers will prepare to face the winner of the other semifinal in the WCC Tournament championship.