Nyara Sabally scored 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, and No. 8 Oregon hung on to defeat Washington State 69-65 on Monday. The Ducks extended the nation’s longest winning streak to 26 games, dating to last season.
Erin Boley added 18 points and made all five of her 3-point attempts for Oregon (7-0, 5-0 Pac-12), which has the longest winning streak in program history.
Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 20 points for Washington State (3-1, 2-1), which came in following its first win over a ranked opponent since the 2016-17 season. The Cougars beat then- No. 21 Oregon State, 61-55 on Saturday. That loss knocked the Beavers out of the poll for the first time in four seasons.
Washington State, picked to finish last in the Pac-12, led much of the game.
Johanna Teder hit a 3-pointer with a few seconds left to lift the Cougars to a 37-32 lead at halftime. Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Cougars with 11 points at the half.
Oregon, which trailed at halftime for the first time this season, was hurt by 11 turnovers in the first half to just four for the Cougars.
Two baskets by Bella Murekatete put Washington State up 41-32 early in the third, but the Ducks came back. Jaz Shelley hit a 3-pointer to put Oregon up 49-48. But Jessica Clarke made a late basket to lift the Cougars to a 50-49 lead at the end of the third period.
Shelley’s 3-pointer with just over a minute left in the game put Oregon ahead 63-62. After a WSU turnover, Boley followed with a 3-pointer to give Oregon the winning points and a 66-62 lead with 33 seconds left.
Krystal Leger-Walker hit a 3-pointer to cut Oregon’s lead to 66-65 with 23 seconds left. Boley hit one of two free throws with 21 seconds remaining to give Oregon a 67-65 lead.
Washington State ran most of the time off the clock and Ula Motuga missed a shot from the corner to end the threat.