CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — The Oregon State women’s basketball team used a dominant third-quarter surge to pull away from Utah State and remain undefeated with a 71-52 victory on Tuesday afternoon at a raucous Gill Coliseum.

A crowd of 8,613 watched the Beavers improve to 4-0 on the young season, while the Aggies fell to an even 2-2.

The game was tightly contested through the first half, with Oregon State holding a 38-29 lead at the intermission. The Beavers had built their advantage with consistent scoring, posting 19 points in each of the first two quarters. Utah State, after a slow 10-point opening period, found a rhythm in the second with 19 points of its own to stay within striking distance.

The contest was decisively broken open in the third quarter. Oregon State’s offense clicked into a higher gear, outscoring the Aggies 23-15 in the period. The run stretched the Beavers’ lead to 61-44 heading into the final frame, and Utah State could not mount a comeback, managing only eight points in the fourth quarter against a stout Oregon State defense.

Oregon State was led by a commanding performance from Tiara Bolden. The Eugene native poured in a game-high 23 points, showcasing her versatility by adding a steal and a block in 32 minutes of action. She was instrumental in the Beavers’ third-quarter run that sealed the victory.

The Beavers’ attack was multifaceted. Kennedie Shuler, a guard from Gresham, provided significant support with 14 points, two assists and a block. The interior presence was felt through Nene Sow, the 6-foot-8 center from Brussels, Belgium, who tallied 11 points and two blocks, controlling the paint on both ends of the floor. Jenna Villa of Arlington, Washington, facilitated the offense effectively, dishing out four assists to go with her 10 points.

For Utah State, the scoring was distributed among several players but lacked a single dominant offensive force. Elise Livingston from Millville led the Aggies with nine points. She was matched by Aaliyah Gayles of Las Vegas, who also scored nine points while contributing two assists and two blocks. Jamisyn Heaton from Lehi provided a spark off the bench, scoring all nine of her points in just 11 minutes of play. Sophie Sene of Nice, France, and Rachel Wilson of Carrollton, Georgia, each added nine and seven points, respectively.

The game began with Oregon State establishing an early tone, jumping out to a 19-10 lead after the first quarter. Utah State battled back in the second period, but could never close the gap entirely before the Beavers’ pivotal third-quarter explosion put the game out of reach.

Oregon State will look to continue its perfect start when it hosts Colorado State on Friday. Utah State, seeking to return to the win column, is scheduled to play its next game at home against Stanislaus State on Thursday.