CORVALLIS, Ore. (Interstat) — Kennedie Shuler scored 24 points and Oregon State used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from San Diego in the second half for a 61-43 victory in a women’s NCAA Division I basketball game Thursday night at Gill Coliseum.

The Beavers, improving to 16-6 overall, held the visiting Toreros to just 13 points after halftime, turning a competitive contest into a comfortable conference win. San Diego’s offensive struggles were profound, as the team shot just 28.8% from the field for the game and saw its record fall to 8-15.

The most important stretch of the game came in the third quarter, where Oregon State’s defense completely stifled San Diego. After trailing 32-30 at halftime, the Beavers opened the second half on a critical 10-1 run, holding the Toreros without a field goal for nearly seven minutes. San Diego managed only seven points in the quarter on 2-of-16 shooting, allowing Oregon State to build a 44-37 lead entering the final period.

Shuler, a 5-foot-10 guard from Gresham, Oregon, was the catalyst throughout. She scored 10 of her game-high 24 points in the third quarter, including a driving layup and a free throw to complete a three-point play that extended the lead to 38-33. She added three assists, a block and a steal in 29 minutes, consistently pressuring the San Diego defense.

Tiara Bolden provided crucial support for Oregon State with 14 points, two blocks and two steals. Her defensive presence was notable, including a blocked shot on San Diego’s Hallie Rhodes early in the game that set a physical tone. Ally Schimel added nine points and played a team-high 30 minutes, while 6-foot-5 center Lizzy Williamson of Adelaide, Australia, anchored the paint with five points, a block and several key rebounds.

San Diego was led by Hallie Rhodes, who scored nine points in just 17 minutes. Jayden Rhodes added 10 points, but the Toreros’ offense never found a consistent rhythm. They finished 3 of 16 from three-point range and a dismal 6 of 14 from the free-throw line. The team’s offensive rating of 68.6 on 63 possessions underscored a night of inefficiency.

Oregon State established control early in the paint, outscoring San Diego 26-16 inside, and capitalized on a slight edge in free-throw accuracy, making 13 of 19 attempts compared to San Diego’s 6 of 14. Despite committing 11 turnovers to San Diego’s seven, the Beavers’ defensive intensity more than compensated.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair. San Diego, fueled by early jumpers from Hallie Rhodes and a three-pointer from Jayden Rhodes, kept pace and even held a brief lead. The Toreros shot 50% in the first quarter to stay within 18-15. The second quarter saw five ties, with San Diego’s Eva Ruse hitting a jumper off a turnover to knot the score at 24-24. Oregon State took its slim two-point lead into the break after an Ally Schimel three-pointer in the final minute.

Any hope for a San Diego upset was extinguished by the Beavers’ lockdown third-quarter defense. Oregon State continued to apply pressure in the fourth, opening the period with a 7-0 spurt to push the lead to 14 points and effectively seal the outcome. A late three-pointer from Oregon State reserve Cloe Vecina of Spain provided the final margin.

The victory keeps Oregon State in strong position within the conference as it prepares to host San Francisco on Saturday. San Diego, mired in an offensive slump, looks to regroup on the road at Portland in its next outing.