Oregon State 71, Utah 62

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) -- Mandy Close scored a career-high 21

points on 8-of-11 shooting and Oregon State beat No. 19 Utah 71-62

on Tuesday night.

Brina Chaney had 16 points and five rebounds for the Beavers

(5-3), while Leilani Estavan had nine points and seven assists.

Oregon State shot 62.8 percent from the field, including 6-of-13

from 3-point range.

Shona Thorburn had 24 points and Kim Smith added 19 for the Utes

(6-3), who shot 38.9 percent from the field.

"It was a good win when you look at how we played the game,"

said Beavers coach Judy Spoelstra. " For 34 or 35 minutes we

played sweet defense."

Oregon State made four its first five 3-point attempts and led

31-18 with 4:56 left in the first half. The Beavers shot 70 percent

(14-of-20) in taking a 39-30 halftime lead.

"I think that we shot so well that we kind of frustrated

them," Close said. "We were just feeling it."

Close sliced through the key for a layup that gave the Beavers

their biggest lead, 50-31 with 15:34 to play. But Thorburn had

eight of the Utes' next 12 points and they went on a 17-2 run to

get within 54-46.

Smith converted a 3-pointer on a fast break off a turnover to

cut the lead to 63-59 with 3:24 to go. Thorburn went 3-for-4 from

free throw line down the stretch for Utah, but Close made two foul

shots to close out the game.

"We have to get used to the fact that teams are going to be

trying to prove something when they play us," said Utah coach

Elaine Elliott. "They just competed better than we did."

Mandie Little had five points and 10 rebounds for Utah, which

was outrebounded 32-26.