OSU's Talia von Oelhoffen Is Taking It One Game At A Time After Game Winning Shot vs UCLA

Photo courtesy of Oregon State X account

By 750 THE GAME STAFF

It may have been the game of the year in all of college basketball, men’s or women’s, as Talia von Oelhoffen hit a game-winning, buzzer-beating three pointer to beat No. 9 UCLA 79-77 from Gill Coliseum last Friday night.

No, it wasn’t just a dream. #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/IMnZwrKGap

— Oregon State WBB (@BeaverWBB) February 17, 2024

ESPN gave Oregon State the win of the week.

Game of the year. Win of the week. #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/XThMb5EAAT

— Oregon State WBB (@BeaverWBB) February 20, 2024

Von Oelhoffen joined John Canzano (Afternoons 3-6 p.m.) to talk about that epic game and finish. She said that in the moment it was hard to really appreciate how much fun that game wa, but after watching it again, she was so happy to be a big part of it.

“It felt amazing,” von Oelhoffen said on 750 The Game. “The last couple minutes of that game were insane and you don’t really realize it till later looking back on it. That moment at the end was so emotional, but just watching the last couple of minutes back it was an amazing game of basketball and was super fun to be a part of. Obviously an amazing crowd. I was just super happy that we got the win and put on a show for Beaver nation.”

This may be head coach Scott Rueck’s best coaching job of his career. The past couple of seasons have been difficult in Corvallis for the Beavers. But as von Oelhoffen said, the Beavers never lost faith in the culture that Rueck has built.

“I’m very grateful for him,” she said of Rueck. “So much of our success as a team this year is credit to him and what he’s built and the culture of this team is something that he emphasizes so much. It was an emotional moment from when we started and the whole journey and then to have a game like that in Gill in front of a packed house. It was just amazing.”

Oregon State has reached big heights this season. The Beavers are 21-4 and they are ranked No. 9 in the latest AP poll moving up two spots from the week before. With the NCAA Tournament right around the corner and a Regional Final in Portland, von Oelhoffen says that the team can’t focus on the postseason. The Pac-12 is too good and the Beavers are taking it one game at a time.

“What has allowed us to be successful this year, the way that we play, is that we take it one day at a time, one possession at a time, one game at a time,” said von Oelhoffen. “So we’re getting ready for Friday night. It’s easy to look at ahead, and obviously we want to host the first couple of rounds. But I think the best thing for us is, especially playing in a tough conference like we do, you just got to take one game at a time.”

Listen to the full interview with Talia von Oelhoffen by clicking the podcast below. Catch the Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano weekdays 3-6 p.m. in Portland exclusively on 750 The Game.