University of Oregon
Washington State
Ducks Win Third Straight, Drop Cougs 69-50
01/15/05 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. ? The University of Oregon women's basketball team won its third straight game Saturday as it beat Washington State 69-50 before 3,702 fans at McArthur Court.
Senior forward Cathrine Kraayeveld had game-highs of 16 points and 11 rebounds ? her second straight double-double and fifth of the year ? as Oregon triumphed over Washington State for the eighth time in a row.
The Ducks improved to 12-4 and 5-2 in the Pac-10 while the Cougars fell to 4-13 and 0-8.
It took awhile for Oregon to get on track, as Washington State held a 15-11 first-half lead with 7:12 left. But two baskets by freshman Kristen Forristall and a 3-pointer each by Kraayeveld and Kaela Chapdelaine helped give the Ducks a 26-18 lead at the 1:45 mark. The Cougars would get no closer than five down the rest of the game.
"They outhustled us in the first half," said Kraayeveld, who made a season-high four 3-pointers on five attempts. "We weren't in it. We stepped up in the second half because we are a second-half team, but we can't say that. We have to play the first half."
Oregon was outrebounded 20-16 at halftime, but came back to grab 10 more than the Cougars in the second half.
Andrea Bills led Oregon's inside charge with 12 points, eight rebounds and two blocked shots.
"At halftime, we committed to defensively getting on the boards," Bills said. "We got more of those loose balls."
It was Oregon's first game without starting guard Chelsea Wagner, who tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee Thursday against Washington. Chapdelaine started in her place and Corrie Mizusawa (seven points, seven assists) also returned at the point after missing the Washington game with flu-like symptoms.
"It's been a great weekend, and that was very important," Oregon coach Bev Smith said. "The coaching staff is very proud. We were a little shaky at the beginning, but we got through that, and because of Chelsea's injury, there was an emotional side to it. We need to play for each other rather that each trying to save the game."
And it was Kraayeveld's outside game that eased the loss of Wagner, who was leading the Pac-10 in 3-pointers per game.
"We have to be active in making up for those shots (that Chelsea would be making)," Kraayeveld said. "We're a good team and when we have one player down, we all have to step up and fill in for them."
"I think tonight we tried to get the rotation that will be important on the rest of the Pac-10 season and in Arizona (next week)," Smith said. "The season is at crunch time. In these double weekends, I think the teams show fatigue."
Kate Benz recorded a double-double for the Cougars with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Adriane Ferguson added a team-high 13 points.
Freshman center Gabrielle Richards came off the bench to score seven points, pull down five rebounds and block a career-high four shots for the Ducks.
Oregon next travels to play Arizona on Thursday at 6 p.m. PST. The Ducks then take on Arizona State in a game televised on Fox Sports Net. Tipoff is Saturday at 1 p.m. PST.
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