KIHEI–The South Maui Community Park Gymnasium became home to the Oregon State women’s basketball team over the weekend, and a large part of the Beavers’ contingent was from Molokai.

The Friendly Isle fans were there to watch one of their own — Talia von Oelhoffen, the leader of the Beavers and daughter of Kimo and Tondi von Oelhoffen. Although Talia von Oelhoffen grew up in Pasco, Wash., there is no doubt that her ties to Maui County are strong.

The first night of the Maui Jim Maui Classic on Saturday was a special experience as the Beavers earned a 96-84 win over Nevada. But Sunday night was a tough learning experience as Oregon State was thumped by 11th-ranked LSU 87-55.

The Beavers go home with a 7-4 record and some work to do, according to von Oelhoffen.

“It was cool that my family got to see me play, I don’t know, it was a good win, it shouldn’t have been that close of a game, defensively we need to grow a lot and this weekend really showed that,” von Oelhoffen said of the Nevada win. “Going to the break that’s what we’re focused on.”

Kimo von Oelhoffen was a 14-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl champion, and Tondi von Oelhoffen played basketball at the University of Hawaii. There were 10 family members in the stands along with several other Molokai High School athletes and fans.

“It’s super fun, a good opportunity for me — obviously today showed a lot of our weaknesses, so we’re just going to learn from it and bounce back,” Talia von Oelhoffen said. “We just have to figure out post defense and how to slow down athletic 4s and 5s, but we’ll bounce back for sure.”

On Saturday, von Oelhoffen scored 41 points, dished out six assists with just one turnover and grabbed five rebounds in the win over the Wolf Pack.

The point total was her career high by nine points and she was remarkably efficient, shooting 17 of 20 from the field.

“That was an amazing, signature performance — to score that many points on 20 shots, only missing three, with only three free throws, is remarkable,” OSU head coach Scott Rueck said. “Legendary, actually — 41 points on 20 shots, but she’s a very special player and the heritage that she has here makes it even more special that she was able to do it in front of family.”

Against LSU she was held to 14 points, still a team high, but she shot just 4 for 14 from the field and was limited to three assists and four rebounds to go along with five turnovers and four fouls. Angel Reese led the Tigers with 25 points and 20 rebounds.

With a Pac-12 Conference loss already on the slate, the Beavers will now take a break from games until Dec. 27, when they host North Carolina Central, before USC and UCLA come to Corvallis Dec. 30 and Jan. 1.

“We’re taking a lot of steps forward, but tonight was a big step back, so we’ve got a lot to work on,” von Oelhoffen said.

OSU went on a 5-0 run midway through the first period to tie it at 15-15, but from there the Tigers went on a 26-2 run to take a 43-17 lead with just under two minutes left in the second quarter.

Von Oelhoffen scored the Beavers’ first six points of the game — on a 3-pointer and traditional three-point play — to give them a 6-4 lead 2:14 into the game, but she didn’t score again in the first half as the Tigers took complete control, leading 47-21 at the break.

With seven of the 11 players on the Beavers roster either transfers new this season or part of the nation’s No. 3 recruiting class last year, there is work to be done, but a large step was accomplished on this trip, Rueck said.

When the lead reached 64-31 with just over two minutes left in the third quarter, chants of “LSU, LSU, LSU” rang out in the gym.

Von Oelhoffen is less than two years out of leaving Chiawana High School in Pasco, Wash., early after the COVID pandemic shutdown of prep sports in the state, but she is clearly the leader of this group as a third-year sophomore.

Rueck said the topic of conversation for von Oelhoffen being the need to improve on the defensive end shows just how much of a leader she has become in less than two years on campus.

“One of the things that’s very special about her is her wisdom and her understanding of the game,” Rueck said. “You know, she’s finding her way as a leader. Being an underclassman and being such a great player, it’s kind of a tricky spot to be in because you have a significant role and yet you’re still gaining experience, but she’s beyond her years in wisdom.

“When you talk to her it’s as if you’re talking to a coach and she truly does understand where our team needs to go and she’s committed. She’s all in into helping us become a great team.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

LSU (12-0)

Reese 10-18 5-6 25, LaDazhia Williams 4-9 2-2 10, Johnson 2-8 0-0 4, Morris 7-16 4-4 18, Poole 3-5 0-0 8, Besselman 0-1 0-0 0, Poa 3-7 0-0 6, Ward 0-1 0-0 0, Carson 5-12 0-0 12, Smith 2-2 0-0 4, Alisa Williams 0-0 0-0 0, Bartlett 0-0 0-0 0, Totals 36-79 11-12 87

OREGON ST. (7-4)

Mitrovic 3-9 1-2 7, Aaron 2-5 0-0 4, Marotte 4-7 0-2 9, von Oelhoffen 4-14 4-5 14, Yeaney 1-6 0-0 2, Beers 3-9 5-5 11, Blacklock 2-4 0-0 6, Hansford 0-2 0-0 0, Mannen 0-1 2-2 2, Pietsch 0-2 0-0 0, Totals 19-59 12-16 55

LSU 17 30 24 16–87

Oregon St. 15 6 19 15–55

3-Point Goals–LSU 4-21 (Reese 0-1, Johnson 0-3, Morris 0-4, Poole 2-3, Besselman 0-1, Poa 0-2, Ward 0-1, Carson 2-6), Oregon St. 5-21 (Mitrovic 0-1, Aaron 0-2, Marotte 1-3, von Oelhoffen 2-6, Yeaney 0-2, Blacklock 2-4, Hansford 0-2, Pietsch 0-1). Assists–LSU 14 (Morris 6), Oregon St. 14 (Mannen 5). Fouled Out–None. Rebounds–LSU 51 (Reese 20), Oregon St. 30 (Mitrovic 9). Total Fouls–LSU 20, Oregon St. 14. Technical Fouls–None. A–940.