University of Oregon
Long Island
Ducks Win LIU Turkey Classic with 68-50 Victory
11/27/04 | Women's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. ? In its first trip to New York, the University of Oregon women's basketball team came away with a championship trophy as the Ducks beat Long Island 68-50 Saturday at the Schwartz Center.
The Ducks remain unbeaten on the season at 4-0 while the Blackbirds drop to 1-2.
Oregon senior forward Cathrine Kraayeveld was selected the tournament's MVP with a combined 28-point, 18-rebound performance in the two victories. Against LIU, she scored 12 of her 18 points in the first half as Oregon jumped out to a 26-9 lead in the first 14 minutes. The Blackbirds would get no closer than 12 down the rest of the way.
"We wanted to come in and get two wins and just play consistently and I think we did that," said Kraayeveld, who made 8-of-11 from the floor and had three steals. "It's different coming on the East Coast ... it's a little different style than what we're used to. But when we stay aggressive and intense on defense, it fuels our offense and that's what we did today."
For Kraayeveld, it was her fifth MVP honor in a row for tournaments she has played in, beginning with the 2002 WNIT.
"She's not just a scorer, but a player at both ends," Oregon coach Bev Smith said of Kraayeveld. "That's the difference between a good player who's one dimensional and a great player. She gets out on the lane and runs, she's good defensively and just makes us better on both ends."
Junior guard Chelsea Wagner also set the tone early for the Ducks, draining two 3-pointers in the game's first five minutes. Finishing with 11 points, Wagner was voted to the all-tourney team, also helped by her 21-point effort Friday against Miami.
"She had a great tournament," Smith said. "Chelsea defensively is very solid. She's got great ball pressure, great in the passing lanes and is a smart defender. It gives us the opportunity to start a game well and bring that defensive intensity."
Smith also was pleased with the team's defense as it was the third time Oregon has allowed 52 points or fewer in its four games.
"Defensively, we had much greater intensify for the whole 40 minutes," she said. "We got 12 steals. Those steals turned into transition points for us. I thought we did that as well as we ever have, as far as running the floor and taking advantage of the turnovers."
Senior point guard Corrie Mizusawa ran the show for Oregon with four assists, no turnovers and 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting. For the tournament, she had 16 assists and three turnovers and repeatedly found Kraayeveld and Andrea Bills (eight points) in the low post for easy scores. The Ducks shot 56 percent from the field, including 65 percent in the first half.
"We know each other's games inside and out," Mizusawa said. "The post players know where we are every single time. That's the focus of our team, Cat and 'Drea."
Kelli Sawyer was the Blackbirds' lone double-digit scorer with 17 points.
Oregon next will participate in the seventh annual Pap? Jam on Saturday at Portland's Rose Garden. The women will play George Washington at 1:30 p.m. while the men take on Vanderbilt at 4 p.m.
LIU Turkey Classic All-Tournament Team
Cathrine Kraayeveld, Oregon (MVP)
Chelsea Wagner, Oregon
Kelli Sawyer, LIU
Tamara James, Miami
Yalonda McCormick, Miami
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