Weisner shoots 1st (and OSU loves her mentality)

Dallas, TX -- The Oregon State Beavers Jamie Weisner didn't detonate early in the Dallas Regional Semifinal against the DePaul Blue Demons. But when she did, Weisner exploded as she sank 20 points.

Before halftime.

"Just getting my rhythm to start with," said Weisner "There were a couple of awkward shots, and then I settled in and found my rhythm and once I was hot just kept shooting."

The PAC-12 Player of the Year broke her personal record of 27 points from her freshman year tonight with 38 points -- the most by any Beaver this season.  Her effort also contributed to Oregon State gaining their first appearance in the Elite Eight ever with the 83-71 win tonight.

"I'm always looking to score that's my mentality - I'm a shooter first," Weisner said following the Sweet 16 win.

If there is a constant for the Beavers, it's Weisner. Her fluid play and aggression is something coaches dream of. Her consistency is a plus. Scoring 14-of- 20 field goal attempts and 7-of-10 three-point attempts established her as the backbone of the Beavers offense. She was crucial in the comeback of the first period for Oregon State, who fell behind seven points early in the quarter.

DePaul kept up with the Beavers for the most of the game, and without Weisner's sheer consistency and effort - the outcome may have been different. The game was the first win for Oregon State while allowing the opponent to score over 70 points.

What made Weisner stand out was her ability to make something out of nothing. Her tenacity with the ball allowed her to give herself an open shot when it didn't look possible. Leaving her free behind the arch proved to be detrimental, 21 of her 38 points were three-pointers.

"She's the ultimate competitor," Oregon State Head Coach Scott Rueck said. "And her confidence is earned."

The 5-foot-10 guard is an overall tenacious player - grabbing rebounds from players inches taller, with 10 tonight. Her effort is the driver behind the Beaver offense, and her toughness makes up for any lack of accuracy she may have - and she doesn't have much.

While Weisner's points accounted for nearly half of the Beaver's end result - one of the keys to her success was the team around her. Her teammates said she makes their job easier. They get her the ball, and she delivers. And she now has the opportunity to deliver again against Baylor on Monday in the Dallas Regional Final.

"How can you not love watching that?" said a happy Rueck when reflecting on his star senior's scintillating performance.

Exactly, coach.