MAKAWAO, Hawaii (Interstat) — Kennedie Shuler scored 21 points and Jenna Villa added 13 as Oregon State pulled away in the second half to defeat Liberty 64-57 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at the Maui Classic.

The Beavers, who improved to 8-5, used a decisive 20-point third quarter to turn a two-point halftime lead into a cushion that the Lady Flames could not overcome, despite a late push. Liberty fell to 6-5 with the loss.

The game was a defensive struggle early, with both teams combining for 20 points in a sluggish first quarter that ended with Oregon State leading 11-9. The pace picked up slightly in the second period, but Liberty’s offensive inconsistencies persisted. The Lady Flames shot just 24 of 55 from the field for the game and attempted only three free throws, making all three.

Oregon State, meanwhile, found its rhythm after halftime. Leading 25-23 at the break, the Beavers opened the third quarter with a 9-2 run, capped by a 3-pointer from Villa. Shuler, a 5-foot-10 guard from Gresham, Oregon, was instrumental throughout the period, scoring seven points and assisting on another basket as Oregon State built a 45-34 lead heading into the final quarter.

The most critical stretch of the game came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter with Oregon State clinging to a 59-57 lead. After Liberty’s Ify Nwaobi scored inside to cut the deficit to two with 41 seconds remaining, the Lady Flames were forced to foul. Villa made two free throws with 39 seconds left to push the lead back to four.

On the ensuing possession, Liberty’s Avery Mills missed a contested 3-pointer that was blocked by Shuler, who also secured the defensive rebound. Shuler was then fouled and made one of two free throws with 18 seconds left for a 62-57 advantage. After another Liberty miss, Oregon State’s Nene Sow sealed the victory by making two free throws with three seconds remaining.

Shuler’s all-around performance included two assists, a block and a steal in 32 minutes. Villa played a game-high 36 minutes, adding three steals. Sow, a 6-foot-8 center from Brussels, Belgium, contributed six points, five rebounds and two assists off the bench.

Liberty was led by 14 points each from Avery Mills and Emmy Stout. Mills, a guard from Lynchburg, Virginia, hit three 3-pointers. Stout, a 6-foot-3 forward from San Diego, also grabbed seven rebounds. Lynn Peters provided a spark off the bench with 10 points in just 11 minutes, and Nwaobi had eight points and three blocks.

Oregon State won despite being narrowly outshot from the field. The Beavers made 23 of 51 attempts while Liberty made 24 of 55. The difference came at the free-throw line, where Oregon State was 11 of 13 and Liberty was a perfect but sparse 3 of 3. The Beavers also held a 7-4 advantage in steals and a 7-4 edge in assists.

Liberty struggled to generate consistent offense, posting an offensive rating of 92.8 points per 100 possessions. Oregon State was more efficient at 99.7 points per 100 possessions. Both teams committed nine turnovers.

The game was part of the 2025-26 WBB Maui Classic at a neutral site in Hawaii. Attendance was 1,299.

Oregon State next travels to face San Francisco on Sunday, Dec. 28. Liberty’s next game is at New Mexico State on Friday, Jan. 2.