CORVALLIS -- Alexys Swedlund had just drilled a three-pointer to slice No. 22 Oregon State's advantage to one point late in the third quarter, the fifth time in six trips down the floor that Washington State had scored.
It was an uncharacteristically shaky stretch for one of the nation's best defensive teams. But then Beavers coach Scott Rueck turned to a slew of veterans at the start of the final period, quickly flipping a potential nail-biter into an 80-58 blowout in OSU's Pac-12 opener Friday at Gill Coliseum.
"It was smothering, really," Rueck said of the defense.