In a game where both teams combined to shoot just 32 percent from the floor, it’s fitting that the final shot rattled off the rim.
Juleen Smith’s three-point shot fell short as time expired Sunday, ending Oregon State’s season and sending Oregon, a 50-48 winner at McArthur Court, on to the third round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, where the Ducks will play Washington at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Seattle.
Sophomore forward Cathrine Kraayeveld grabbed a rebound and scored an easy layin with 4.4 seconds left to give the Ducks (18-13) the margin of victory — but not before some controversy.
After Kraayeveld’s putback, Oregon State’s (17-15) Leilani Estavan took the inbounds pass and dribbled past half court, where she stopped and called a timeout. A debate ensued over how much time was left. Initially, officials administered 1.6 seconds, but after a conference between coaches and referees, 1.2 seconds was put on the board for the Beavers’ desperation three-point attempt.
“I thought it was going to go,” Smith said of her shot, which was contested by Oregon’s Jamie Craighead. “I had to change my shot a little in midair, but I thought it was in.”
With less than 10 seconds remaining and the game tied at 48, Oregon’s Edniesha Curry drove the lane and had her shot blocked. Alyssa Fredrick recovered the ball, but her shot sailed over the rim, where Kraayeveld picked up the rebound and sank the game-winner.
The Ducks, one of just eight teams left in the WNIT, won consecutive games in the postseason for the first time since 1989, when Oregon won the National Women’s Invitation Tournament.
“That was a game won on nerves and sheer will,” said Oregon head coach Bev Smith. “I don’t think we could play another team in the nation that would give us a more competitive game.”

Similar to Oregon’s woeful shooting performance in the first meeting of the year since Jan. 19 — Oregon State’s first win at Mac Court in nine years — the Ducks shot just 26.7 percent in the first half Sunday, as the Beavers took a 29-19 lead into the break.
“We shot 26 percent. We didn’t know how we were still in the game,” Craighead said.
“We weren’t too discouraged,” Kraayeveld said of the halftime deficit. “We held them to 29 points, so we were playing good defense. Our offense just wasn’t there.”
In the second half, Oregon’s offense showed up, and the Beavers were taken out of the game mentally.
Oregon State senior Felicia Ragland was issued a technical for arguing a traveling call with an official early in the second half. From there, the Beavers and head coach Judy Spoelstra were constantly battling the refs.
“I think the momentum was really taken away in the second half by the officials,” Spoelstra said. “I think we were the better team, and we deserved to win.”
Kraayeveld, who finished the game with 12 points and 10 rebounds, converted a three-point play with a free throw at the 12:55 mark, cutting the Beavers’ lead to 34-29.

A Shaquala Williams jumper at 9:27 capped off an 8-2 run that gave the Ducks a 37-36 lead.
“It obviously wasn’t a pretty game, but we won the game because of our defense,” Williams said.
The Beavers led by as much as seven in the final seven minutes, but Craighead cut the lead to 44-40 with a three-pointer with 6:08 to play.
“Maybe offensively we didn’t show up, but everyone came to play today,” Craighead said.
Oregon freshman Andrea Bills, who had a career-high 15 rebounds, hit a short jumper with 1:54 left to tie the game at 48.
“We’re looking at the big picture,” Bev Smith said. “Oregon State was just a hurdle for us to get over to get where we want.”