CORVALLIS -- Stuck in her Monday-night class, Sydney Wiese sneakily pulled out her iPhone to get a glimpse of the contest between No. 8 Stanford and No. 15 UCLA.
Or perhaps not-so-sneakily, given the Oregon State point guard was quickly flanked by three classmates and would occasionally catch her professor's eye while instinctively throwing her hands up in reaction to a play.
In the end, the Beavers can say "thank you" to UCLA for pulling off a big win at Maples Pavilion. Because now No. 9 OSU enters the stretch run of the season -- which continues by hosting USC Friday night and those Bruins Sunday afternoon -- in a familiar position: Alone atop the Pac-12 standings.