Oregon State Guard Ties 43-Year Steals Record in OT Win

Kennedie Shuler walked off the court Thursday night one assist shy of a triple-double and tied for a record that's stood since Ronald Reagan's first term.

The Oregon State guard matched the school's single-game steals record with 10 swipes against Gonzaga, equaling Juli Coleman's 1983 performance. She finished with 17 points, nine assists, five rebounds, and three blocks in the 92-87 overtime victory.

The game between conference co-leaders lived up to every ounce of hype. Three of the past four matchups between these teams have gone to overtime, and the fourth was decided by just two points.

Gonzaga forced the extra period with a prayer from beyond NBA range. Paige Lofing entered the game cold and drilled a long-distance triple to tie it at 79, sending the Gill Coliseum crowd into stunned silence.

Shuler fouled out early in overtime, forcing her teammates to close without their floor general. They responded with grit and clutch free throw shooting.

Jenna Villa carried the offensive load with 31 points, including 24 in the second half. The junior knocked down 15 free throws, the most by a Beaver since 2004, and seven came in the overtime period to seal the win.

Ally Schimel delivered the kind of defensive performance that doesn't show up in highlight reels but wins championships. She shadowed Gonzaga's Allie Turner for all 45 minutes, holding the sharpshooter to just 5 points and one three-pointer against her 15-point average and 47 percent shooting clip.

Why This Inspires

Records are meant to be broken, but some stand as monuments to excellence for decades. Coleman's 1983 steals record represented a standard of defensive intensity that went untouched for 43 years.

Shuler didn't just tie it. She nearly added a triple-double in the same game, missing only when a three-pointer rimmed out in overtime.

The performance showcased something basketball fans crave: elite two-way play in a game that mattered. This wasn't stat-padding against an overmatched opponent. This was a future Pac-12 rivalry game between conference leaders that required five extra minutes to decide.

Lizzy Williamson pulled down 11 rebounds and finished with the team's best plus-minus rating at +16. Tiara Bolden sparked the offense early with 10 first-quarter points, then delivered the only overtime field goal when it mattered most.

Oregon State shot nearly 50 percent from the floor and made 70 percent of their free throws when the pressure peaked. The Beavers now stand 15-6 overall and 7-1 in conference play, having survived three overtime battles in their last four games against this rival.

Sometimes the best stories aren't about breaking records but about matching them when everything's on the line.