The fingertip of WSU junior center Maria Kostourkova triggered a foul with one second remaining in overtime that sent No. 16 Oregon State University to the free-throw line where they would seal the win for the Beavers 63-61.

OSU (18-6, 9-4) senior center Marie Gulich had a double-double with 15 points and 16 rebounds. WSU (10-15, 3-10) redshirt sophomore forward Borislava “Bobi” Hristova had 21 points on 23 shots and four rebounds.

Interim Head Coach Mike Daugherty was pleased with the way the Cougars played, but a bit disappointed after losing multiple games in the final seconds this season.

“I thought that was a heartbreaking way to end a game of that caliber,” Daugherty said.  “I’m very, very proud of the way this team played. The way they fought, the way they followed the game plan. They gave us a chance to win. I thought it was one of our best efforts of the year.”

WSU led for more than 30 minutes in regulation and the Cougars held a 24-13 lead after the first half.

“If somebody would have told me we would hold them to 13 points in the first half, I’d have thought they were crazy,” Daugherty said. “We were able to do it because we were getting to their shooters quickly, early. They weren’t exactly sure how to attack us.”

OSU came out of halftime and outscored the Cougars 23-12 in the third quarter to tie the game at 36 to start the final frame.

WSU senior guard Pinelopi Pavlopoulou said the Beavers were able to regroup at halftime.

“I think they just got time to settle down. Get together as a team and talk about what we were doing defensively. They came out there and showed a much more mature team,” Pavlopoulou said.

Part of the adjustments the Beavers made included spreading out their players on offense and utilizing cross-court passing to make it harder on WSU defensively, Daugherty said.

WSU was down by five points with just under two minutes remaining when a Kostourkova jump shot narrowed the OSU lead to three, 48-45.

After a stop on defense, Hristova made a jump shot to narrow the lead to one. The Cougars were able to get the ball back and Hristova responded by scoring a layup that drew a foul, giving WSU a 50-48 lead with 16 seconds remaining.

“We just played our hearts out. We showed we can play together. That is, so far, the best effort we have given as a team,” Hristova said.

OSU junior guard Katie McWilliams would then score a layup with two seconds remaining in the game to send it to extra time.

In overtime, WSU was down by six points with 30 seconds remaining before a three-pointer from Hristova made it a one-possession game.

“I don’t think ‘Bobi’ has a conscious. Ball is going in, it’s not going in, she thinks the next one is going in. That’s what great players are,” Daugherty said.

An immediate intentional foul after the basket sent McWilliams to the free-throw line. She would sink one of her two attempts to make the score 61-57.

Pavlopoulou answered right back with a three-pointer to narrow the lead to one point with 12 seconds left on the clock.

WSU was able to get a stop on defense, and Kostourkova was fouled on her shot near the basket with two seconds remaining. She hit one of her two attempts to tie the game at 61.

OSU was able to get off a desperation pass across the court where McWilliams caught the ball, and took a shot that fell short. That’s when the foul was called on Kostourkova that ultimately lost the Cougars the game.

“I’m not allowed to talk about the refs, so I won’t,” Daugherty said.

WSU has a day off to rest before it faces No. 9 University of Oregon on Sunday. Daugherty said the Cougars will try to translate the success they had against the Beavers to their next game.

“We’ll try to do the same thing we did tonight as far as our offensive game plan, you won’t see us taking quick shots. We’ll look for good shots. I think we got good shots all night tonight,” Daugherty said.

The Cougars take on the Ducks 1 p.m. Sunday at Beasley Coliseum. The game can also be seen live on Pac-12 Networks.