The Pan Am Games conclude Saturday night here in Lima, Peru. A sprawling city of 11 million people who have really embraced this multi-sport competition. We left the state of Oregon for Peru on Monday because of the unusual number of Oregon State players involved in the Games. Four current and former Beavers are here playing for three different countries. No other university in the United States has that many players here in Lima. Here is a rundown of the Beaver quartet:
MIKAYLA PIVEC- Mikayla is a senior on the current Beaver team and was selected to compete for Team USA. Quite an honor for a student-athlete who is outstanding on the court and in the classroom. Mikayla graduated in three years in Bio Health Sciences!! That is no easy task. She is not only on the roster of Team USA she is starting and has contributed to their 3-0 record here in Lima. After yesterday's game I chatted with Mikayla for NBC Sports Northwest.
ALI GIBSON- Ali Gibson is also in the Pan Am Games semifinals playing for Puerto Rico. The 2015 graduate of Oregon State and a key part of the early success of the Scott Rueck era, Ali had two big three pointers in their huge win over Canada last night to secure a spot in the semifinals against Mikayla and the USA. She talked with me last night about the victory!
RUTH HAMBLIN AND JAMIE WEISNER SCOTT
The pair of 2016 OSU graduates are playing for Team Canada. They played four games in four days and wound up in sixth place. Jamie had eight points and 11 boards in the loss today to Argentina 59-54. Hamblin had eight points and 12 rebounds for Team Canada......Both have played in the WNBA and have traveled extensively playing internationally after their year's in Corvallis. At first in this upcoming interview you can see the hurt after a tough loss. Then their maturity shows through their talk about the future and about their relationship with Oregon State.
Now its down to the Final Four. USA and Mikayla versus Puerto Rico and Ali. The game starts at 7:pm Pacific on ESPN U. The winner will play Brazil or Columbia for the Gold Medal.