Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Destiny At Ducks' Doorstep
02/22/18 | Women's Basketball, @GoDucksMoseley
Oregon plays Friday at Arizona State (5 p.m., Pac-12), and by winning at ASU for the first time since 1999-2000 would clinch a share of the conference title for the first time since that same season.
With each passing year, the 1999-2000 season drifts further into the rear-view mirror. There are two significant accomplishments the Oregon women's basketball team hasn't achieved since that spring, both of which can be checked off Friday night.
The Ducks enter the final weekend of the regular season in the driver's seat for their first conference title since 1999-2000. With a win at Arizona State on Friday (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network), the UO women would clinch a share of the crown — but it will taking winning in Tempe, something else Oregon hasn't accomplished since the spring of 2000.
Eighth-ranked Oregon (25-4) enters this weekend at 14-2 in Pac-12 play, a game ahead of Stanford and two up on both UCLA and Oregon State. This weekend the Cardinal face Washington and WSU, which have four combined conference wins on the season; if the Ducks want to wrap up a Pac-12 title, they probably can't expect any help, and will need to do so on the court.
"It's so close," UO sophomore Sabrina Ionescu said. "We can see it, and everything kind of fell into place, with Stanford losing (to California last weekend) and then us having a great win here against UCLA (on Monday). It's right there — but if we don't come out and perform, none of that stuff matters anymore."
The Ducks are looking to end a 15-game losing streak at Arizona State, which has plenty to play for itself. The Sun Devils are 19-9 overall and 10-6 in conference play, including a 74-64 loss in Eugene last month.
"They're still fighting for a good (conference tournament seed), and perhaps even a bye in that first round," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "And they're definitely an NCAA Tournament team, so a win over us is going to enhance their seeding. So this is a big, important game for them. …
"Our team has done a great job of just looking at what's next. They're smart; they know what's ahead of us. But we won't focus on anything but Arizona State."
Oregon had a quick turnaround to regroup from Monday's emotional victory over the Bruins. After squandering a 19-point second-half lead, the Ducks rallied to force overtime, then dominated the extra five minutes before a raucous Matthew Knight Arena crowd, and a national audience on ESPN2.
The game took a toll on point guard Maite Cazorla, who twice went to the bench with calf cramps. But the injuries had no lingering effects, and Cazorla said she'll make sure she's hydrated for a trip to the desert this week, so that she's well-fueled for Oregon's attempt to clinch a Pac-12 title.
"We know what we're capable of," Cazorla said. "We know we're really good. So each game, play hard, play your best and we'll see what happens."
Cazorla and Ionescu will be under intense pressure Friday night, given ASU's preference for tough, grinding games. Arizona State leads the Pac-12 in defense at 57.1 points per game. The Sun Devils allow a .408 field-goal percentage, just eighth in the conference, but make up for it by limiting second shots — they get 74.5 percent of possible defensive rebounds, most in the Pac-12 — and by playing in-your-face defense the length of the court.
"It's nice knowing that we just faced two really elite defensive teams," Graves said of USC and UCLA. "So it does prepare us a little for what we'll see. But I think Arizona State's the best defensive team in the conference."
When Cazorla was sidelined Monday night by the calf cramps, freshman Satou Sabally took over some ball-handling duties from Ionescu. But ultimately, it was Ionescu, the Pac-12's leading scorer, who put the team on her back in overtime.
Miffed at a missed free throw late in regulation that led in overtime, Ionescu put an inconsistent shooting night behind her by scoring seven of Oregon's 11 points in the extra five minutes. She and fellow sophomore Ruthy Hebard ran the pick-and-roll to devastating effect, with Hebard setting monstrous screens at the three-point line to free up Ionescu.
"That game just slowed down for us," Ionescu said. "We just cleared out the whole side, and then she set low screens because they had quick guards that were getting through the screens. I took my time and used the screen, and either she was open for a dump-off or I was open for that midrange shot."
With the game on the line, in other words, the Ducks played to their strength. Another this season has been mental toughness — taking care of business against Cal before facing Stanford, and USC before facing UCLA last week. They'll look to bring similar focus to the court Friday, with the Sun Devils standing between Oregon and a share of the Pac-12 title.
"That's as far as we'll look ahead, knowing that's an important, important game," Graves said. "I think our kids realize what's right in front of us, and I think we're going to be really focused and ready for that game."
The Ducks enter the final weekend of the regular season in the driver's seat for their first conference title since 1999-2000. With a win at Arizona State on Friday (5 p.m., Pac-12 Network), the UO women would clinch a share of the crown — but it will taking winning in Tempe, something else Oregon hasn't accomplished since the spring of 2000.
Eighth-ranked Oregon (25-4) enters this weekend at 14-2 in Pac-12 play, a game ahead of Stanford and two up on both UCLA and Oregon State. This weekend the Cardinal face Washington and WSU, which have four combined conference wins on the season; if the Ducks want to wrap up a Pac-12 title, they probably can't expect any help, and will need to do so on the court.
"It's so close," UO sophomore Sabrina Ionescu said. "We can see it, and everything kind of fell into place, with Stanford losing (to California last weekend) and then us having a great win here against UCLA (on Monday). It's right there — but if we don't come out and perform, none of that stuff matters anymore."
The Ducks are looking to end a 15-game losing streak at Arizona State, which has plenty to play for itself. The Sun Devils are 19-9 overall and 10-6 in conference play, including a 74-64 loss in Eugene last month.
"They're still fighting for a good (conference tournament seed), and perhaps even a bye in that first round," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "And they're definitely an NCAA Tournament team, so a win over us is going to enhance their seeding. So this is a big, important game for them. …
"Our team has done a great job of just looking at what's next. They're smart; they know what's ahead of us. But we won't focus on anything but Arizona State."
Oregon had a quick turnaround to regroup from Monday's emotional victory over the Bruins. After squandering a 19-point second-half lead, the Ducks rallied to force overtime, then dominated the extra five minutes before a raucous Matthew Knight Arena crowd, and a national audience on ESPN2.
The game took a toll on point guard Maite Cazorla, who twice went to the bench with calf cramps. But the injuries had no lingering effects, and Cazorla said she'll make sure she's hydrated for a trip to the desert this week, so that she's well-fueled for Oregon's attempt to clinch a Pac-12 title.
"We know what we're capable of," Cazorla said. "We know we're really good. So each game, play hard, play your best and we'll see what happens."
Cazorla and Ionescu will be under intense pressure Friday night, given ASU's preference for tough, grinding games. Arizona State leads the Pac-12 in defense at 57.1 points per game. The Sun Devils allow a .408 field-goal percentage, just eighth in the conference, but make up for it by limiting second shots — they get 74.5 percent of possible defensive rebounds, most in the Pac-12 — and by playing in-your-face defense the length of the court.
"It's nice knowing that we just faced two really elite defensive teams," Graves said of USC and UCLA. "So it does prepare us a little for what we'll see. But I think Arizona State's the best defensive team in the conference."
When Cazorla was sidelined Monday night by the calf cramps, freshman Satou Sabally took over some ball-handling duties from Ionescu. But ultimately, it was Ionescu, the Pac-12's leading scorer, who put the team on her back in overtime.
Miffed at a missed free throw late in regulation that led in overtime, Ionescu put an inconsistent shooting night behind her by scoring seven of Oregon's 11 points in the extra five minutes. She and fellow sophomore Ruthy Hebard ran the pick-and-roll to devastating effect, with Hebard setting monstrous screens at the three-point line to free up Ionescu.
"That game just slowed down for us," Ionescu said. "We just cleared out the whole side, and then she set low screens because they had quick guards that were getting through the screens. I took my time and used the screen, and either she was open for a dump-off or I was open for that midrange shot."
With the game on the line, in other words, the Ducks played to their strength. Another this season has been mental toughness — taking care of business against Cal before facing Stanford, and USC before facing UCLA last week. They'll look to bring similar focus to the court Friday, with the Sun Devils standing between Oregon and a share of the Pac-12 title.
"That's as far as we'll look ahead, knowing that's an important, important game," Graves said. "I think our kids realize what's right in front of us, and I think we're going to be really focused and ready for that game."
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's BasketballKelly Graves: "Keeping them fresh."
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