Oregon State faces North Carolina in NCAA Tournament clash

Oregon State is ready to make an impact in the NCAA Tournament, entering as a No. 14 seed. The Beavers have won 10 of their last 12 games, including a championship title in the West Coast Conference (WCC). They are set to play No. 3 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on Saturday. The team has shown strong improvement since early in the season. They struggled in November, but now they believe they can compete with top teams. Senior center Kelsey Rees stated, "If we play at our best, we can beat almost anyone out there." Coach Scott Rueck noted that the team has developed a better understanding of their strengths. Oregon State has size advantages with players like Rees and 6-foot-7 Sela Heide. North Carolina guard Alyssa Ustby acknowledged this advantage, stating they haven't faced a team with such height recently. The Beavers learned from challenging early-season games against strong teams like Connecticut and Illinois. The Beavers excelled in defense and rebounding during their recent success, holding opponents to under 40% shooting in 10 of their last 12 games. They are familiar with the underdog role, as they have been lower seeded in previous tournaments but have a solid track record with coach Rueck. Despite being 20½-point underdogs, Rueck is excited for the challenge ahead. North Carolina coach Courtney Banghart respects Oregon State and expects them to be well-prepared. Fans and analysts are eager to see how the Beavers perform in the tournament.