University of Oregon
Washington State
Ducks Bounce Washington State, 60-50
01/17/04 | Women's Basketball
PULLMAN, Wash. ? Junior guard Brandi Davis scored a season-high 20 points to lead the University of Oregon women's basketball team to a 60-50 trouncing of Washington State at Friel Court Saturday afternoon.
Oregon improved to 10-7 and 2-5 in the Pac-10. The Cougars, who lost their 11th straight, dropped to 4-13 and 0-8.
“They really played as we asked them to and followed the game plan the whole way through the game,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “Washington State is a team that has taken everybody to the end of the game, although I don't feel there was a point in the game where it was out of our control.”
The Ducks trailed early in the game, down 15-9 after a Adriane Ferguson 3-pointer with 13:31 left in the first half. But Oregon went on an 18-6 run to close the half, initially sparked by eight consecutive points by Davis, including two from 3-point range. The Ducks held an opponent to their second-lowest scoring half of any year as it led 27-21 at intermission.
Oregon held its largest lead at 50-29 with 10 minutes left in the game, but Washington State began using a full-court press that caused five turnovers in a four-minute stretch. The Cougars clawed their way back to trail only 54-45 with 4:31 remaining, but they would get no closer the rest of the way.
“I've never underestimated Washington Sate,” said Davis, who made 8-of-14 from the floor, including 4-of-9 from 3-point territory. “They're known to sneak up on you. I knew they were going to come back hungry in the second half.”
Oregon had a 20-point scorer for the first time since Cathrine Kraayeveld had 26 against LSU in the season's second game, and the Ducks scored the most points since they had 68 vs. Santa Clara nine games ago. Davis reached double-figures for the third straight game and the sixth out of the last seven.
Freshman forward Eleanor Haring was Oregon's other double-digit scorer with 13 to go with a career-high nine rebounds. Andrea Bills added nine points and nine boards for the Ducks. The Ducks, who had been outrebounded six games in a row, won the battle of the boards 42-39.
Oregon's defense also held an opponent to fewer than 60 points for the eighth time this year.
“Defensively, we've always been pretty tough,” Smith said. “It's a very important win after coming off a real tough game against Washington. Our players did a great job staying together. They have great chemistry off the floor.”
Kate Benz led the Cougars with 19 points while Nikki Stratton added nine points.
Oregon next plays host Thursday to Arizona at 7 p.m. at McArthur Court. Arizona State then visits McArthur Court on Saturday in a game televised nationally on Fox Sports Net. Tipoff is at noon.
- www.GoDucks.com -
