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Weisner leads No. 8 Oregon State women past Utah,

Feb 15, 2016 - 12:31 AM CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) Oregon State coach Scott Rueck said Jamie Weisner gives his team confidence, and it's been impressive to watch her ''phenomenal'' play lately.

Weisner scored from deep and on slashing drives and tied career highs with 27 points and four steals as the eightn-ranked Beavers built an early lead and cruised to a 72-53 victory over Utah on Sunday.

''Certainly Jamie is a tough cover for anyone, and is playing, clearly, the best basketball of her life and maybe the best basketball in our conference right now,'' Rueck said.

Weisner deflected the praise, saying, "my teammates got me open,'' and added that when she attacked the basket, Utah didn't provide much help on defense.

Ruth Hamblin had 14 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks, and Sydney Wiese added seven points and 10 assists for the Beavers (22-3, 13-1 Pac-12), who won their 12th in a row.

Rueck, in his sixth year with Oregon State, got his 400th career win. That total includes 288 victories at NCAA Division III George Fox.

Paige Crozon had 16 points and nine rebounds and Joeseta Fatuesi scored 13 points for the Utes (14-11, 6-8).

Oregon State outrebounded Utah 44-36, and shot 41 percent, compared to 35 percent for the Utes.

Utah coach Lynne Roberts pointed to the rebounding as the difference in the game.

''Obviously, that's something they focused in on,'' she said. ''I'm sure they were challenged. ... They were really physical inside and their perimeter players boxed our perimeters players out really well.''

The Beavers started fast thanks in part to Weisner, who scored 10 points in the first quarter. A jumper by the senior guard with 4:35 left in the period capped an 11-0 run, and put Oregon State up 19-7.

Utah responded with an 11-2 run at the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, and trailed 24-20 after Fatuesi's layup with 6:18 left in the half. Oregon State scored the next five points, however.

The Beavers led 34-24 at the break.

Oregon State was up double digits the rest of the game, and led by 20 points in the fourth quarter.

Utah forward Emily Potter, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, got into early foul trouble, and was whistled for her second less than five minutes into the game, which led to Roberts getting a technical. Potter was averaging 16.3 points and 10.5 rebounds, but finished with two points and four rebounds in 17 minutes on Sunday.

TIP INS

Utah: Potter has scored in double figures in 22 of 25 games this season. ... Utah outrebounded Oregon State 48-41 on Jan. 22 in the previous contest between the schools. Oregon State has only been outrebounded in two games all season. ... Fatuesi has scored in double digits in three of her last four games.

Oregon State: No team has shot better than 35.3 percent during Oregon State's win streak. ... Oregon State is 40-4 in its last 44 games at Gill Coliseum, and 24-1 in its last 25 Pac-12 games.

SYD'S ASSISTS

In her last two games, Wiese has posted an 18-3 assist-to-turnover ratio. ''That's exactly what we need from her. She set the tone I felt for our weekend, taking care of the basketball, and her teammates were the recipients of a lot of good looks,'' Rueck said.

UNDER CONTROL

Roberts said Fatuesi has stepped up her game by not rushing things. ''The biggest thing for her is slowing down. She's doing a better job staying under control,'' Roberts said.

UP NEXT

Utah: Hosts California on Friday.

Oregon State: Hosts USC on Friday.