By Leon Mitchell, GSU Athletic Communications
CORVALLIS, Ore. — Grambling State showcased resilience but fell short against Oregon State (3-5), losing 63-56 at Gill Coliseum on Tuesday.The Tigers mounted a strong rally in the third and fourth quarters but ultimately couldn’t overcome Oregon State’s dominance in the paint.
Kahia Warmsley led Grambling State (2-5) with 14 points, two rebounds, and a steal, while Alyssa Phillip contributed 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Douthshine Prien added seven points, two steals and a team-best five assists. The Tigers forced 19 turnovers and converted them into 19 points while adding 14 points from their bench. However, they shot just 32.4% from the field, including 22.2% from three-point range.
Oregon State capitalized on its size advantage, outrebounding Grambling 48-36 and dominating with 42 points in the paint. Sela Heide was a standout performer for the Beavers, going a perfect 7-for-7 from the field and finishing with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Kelsey Rees added a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while AJ Marotte chipped in 13 points.
Grambling trailed 20-29 at halftime after a difficult first quarter in which they shot just 15.8%. The Tigers roared back in the third quarter, outscoring Oregon State 18-14 and narrowing the deficit to just a few possessions heading into the final period. Oregon State responded with an efficient fourth quarter, shooting 66.7% to seal the game.
The Tigers forced Oregon State to shoot 0-for-13 from beyond the arc and stayed competitive with a 13-12 edge in second-chance points.