Estavan carries OSU to victory.

Byline: From Register-Guard and news service reports

CINCINNATI - Senior guard Leilani Estavan scored a career-high 25 points as Oregon State wrapped up its nonleague schedule with a 61-55 women's basketball victory over Cincinnati on Friday night.

OSU WOMEN

The loss marks the first time that the Bearcats (6-4) have dropped back-to-back games at home in seven years. The Beavers (6-3) return to action on Dec. 27 with their Pac-10 opener on the road against No. 7 Stanford.

OSU trailed 44-38 with 9:57 left in the game, but closed out the final eight minutes on a 20-9 run which was fueled by consecutive three-pointers from Estavan and Ebony Young to seal the victory.

Estavan made 8-of-14 shots from the field, including 4-of-5 from three-point range. She scored 19 of her points in the second half. Young finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting, and Krystal Turner pulled down 12 rebounds. Debbie Merrill led Cincinnati with 25 points and 10 rebounds.

The Beavers shot better than 50 percent from the field for the fourth straight game, finishing at 54 percent on 23-of-43. OSU hurt itself with 19 turnovers and was outrebounded by a 31-30 margin.

`Give our players a ton of credit,' OSU coach Judy Spoelstra said. `It was a chess match for a while.'

Cincinnati jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but the Beavers countered with a 15-2 stretch to take a 17-11 advantage.

The Bearcats battled back behind Merrill's hot shooting to knot the score at 24-24 at halftime.

OSU opened a five-point lead with a pair of quick baskets to open the second half. Cincinnati then scored 20 of the game's next 29 points to forge its 44-38 lead.

The Beavers regained control over the next eight minutes, and when the Bearcats pulled within three late in the game, Brina Chaney made two free throws and Estavan buried a three to put the game out of reach.

OREGON STATE (61)

Mp Fg Ft R F A To S Tp

Close ... 32 2-5 0-0 4 1 2 3 0 4

Turner ... 31 1-2 1-1 10 3 0 2 1 3

Chaney ... 25 3-4 2-4 7 3 0 2 0 8

Young ... 21 5-7 0-0 0 2 4 2 2 12

Estavan ... 40 8-14 5-6 2 3 1 6 0 25

Chapman ... 33 4-7 0-1 4 1 3 3 0 9

Jones ... 11 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Campbell ... 6 0-2 0-0 1 0 0 1 0 0

Vickery ... 1 0-0 0-0 00 0 0 0 0 0

Totals ... 200 23-43 8-12 30 13 10 19 4 61

Shooting: Field goals 53.5%, 3-point baskets - 7-14 (Estavan 4-5, Young 2-3, Chapman 1-2, Jones 0-1, Campbell 0-1, Closs 0-2). Blocked shots - 4 (Chaney 2, Close, Chapman). Total rebounds includes two team rebounds.

CINCINNATI (55)

Mp Fg Ft R F A To S Tp

Merrill ... 36 12-22 1-2 10 4 3 3 0 25

Young ... 29 2-4 0-0 4 4 40 1 2 4

Stephens ... 32 1-4 0-0 5 2 1 2 2 2

Harvey ... 33 4-7 1-2 1 1 5 1 2 9

King ... 29 2-11 2-2 3 0 0 2 0 8

Knoch ... 3 0-0 0-0 00 0 0 0 0 0

Slaughter ... 16 1-5 0-0 2 1 0 0 0 2

Ashley ... 6 0-0 0-0 2 0 0 0 0 0

Humphries ... 16 2-8 1-1 1 3 1 1 2 5

Totals ... 200 24-63 5-7 31 14 15 12 8 55

Shooting: Field goals 38.1%, 3-point baskets - 2-14 (King 2-9, Merrill 0-1, Harvey 0-1, Slaughter 0-1, Humphries 0-2). Blocked shots - 1 (Merrill). Total Rebounds includes three team rebounds..

Oregon State ... 24 37 - 61

Cincinnati ... 24 31 - 55

Officials - Sally Bell, Bob Trammell, John Whitson. Attendance - 427.