Lahaina, Maui- The 8th-ranked Oregon State Women's Basketball team is off to another great start this season. A huge win over South Carolina and half a fourth quarter away from beating #1 Notre Dame. They demolished their last opponent Santa Clara 82-31 and are now primed to improve their record if they can take care of Eastern Washington Friday night he on Maui.
This is the third year of the Maui Jim Classic but the first in Lahaina. The Beavers played in the first two seasons of the tournament in Kahalui but the facility here in Lahaina hosts the Men's tourney annually so it was time for the Women's event to move here as well.
The Beavers arrived earlier in the week and had a couple of intense practices. They also had a chance to hit the hotel pools and the Beaches of Maui. Big Beach is tremendous and I had a chance to chat with Last year's Tourney MVP Mikayla Pivec the Junior from Lynnwood, Washington who is the team's leading rebounder this season.
The players enjoyed the down time but they were really pumped to read to the students at Pomaikai Elementary School on Maui. They were given specially designed Lei's the students made and a group of the students sang to Mikalya and Andrea Aquino in their classroom...I have included this video after this text.
The Beavers read various books to every class at the school and when the bell rang they headed out with the kids and teachers for some four square, hopscotch and of course basketball. I included the Destiny Slocum pass of the backboard to Kat Tudor for the dunk!! (yes they were elementary school baskets).
Now I am sitting at a practice watching the Beavers prepare for the Eagles tomorrow night. The other game will feature UC Riverside and the Beavs opponent Saturday night....a very good Texas and M team. They have impressive wins this season over Houston, Rice and Central Arkansas
Pregame coverage on the Beaver Sports Network begins at 9:pm Friday night with the tip at 9:30 PM Pacific. Go to osubeavers.com to listen. There will be a video stream available as well.