University of Oregon
University of British Columbia (Exh.)
Ducks Deal British Columbia Exhibition Loss
10/31/05 | Women's Basketball
Sophomore post Gabrielle Richards led the Ducks with game-highs of 17 points and ten rebounds. Junior center Carolyn Ganes added 15 points and seven boards, and junior forward Eleanor Haring also cracked double-figures with 12 points.
“I thought that we ran the floor well for the most part tonight,” said Richards. “Eleanor Haring provided a spark for us running the floor and she had a bunch of open lay ups.”
Sophomore point guard Kaela Chapdelaine dished out a game-high ten assists and consistently got the Ducks into their transition game, finding open targets up the floor.
“It was really good to get out and play against someone other than ourselves,” Chapdelaine said.
The Thunderbirds are not your run-of-the-mill exhibition season fodder. UBC, currently ranked No. 3 among Canadian Universities, is 7-0 in its regular season, which began in mid-October.
“Even though they were an undersized team, they are a very seasoned veteran team who has already played eight games this year,” said UO fifth-year head coach Bev Smith. “They played really well together, which is what we expected.”
Caitlyn Haggarty and Julie Little led UBC with 11 points apiece. Kelsey Blair just missed a double-double with nine points and nine rebounds.
The Ducks shot 50.0 percent for the game, nearly doubling UBC in total field goals, 34-18.
Despite losing three starters from a year ago, including All-Pacific-10 Conference performers Cathrine Kraayeveld and Andrea Bills, the Ducks displayed outstanding depth and athleticism in their first formal tune-up for the upcoming regular season. Ten of UO's 11 players in uniform scored at least two points, and five Ducks grabbed four or more rebounds.
The Ducks built a six-point halftime lead, 41-35, behind 52.9 percent shooting from the field and a 24-11 advantage on the boards. If not for nine turnovers and 11 fouls,
After a Thunderbirds' miss, senior Brandi Davis scored a put-back basket after grabbing an offensive rebound, putting
UBC got within a pair again at 53-51 with 11 minutes remaining, but senior Chelsea Wagner's three-point field goal, her first of the game, stretched the Ducks' lead back to five and sparked a 16-2 run that put the game out of reach.
The Thunderbirds quickly found their touch, taking a 12-10 lead, but Oregon got its up-tempo game on track, reclaiming a two-point advantage, 16-14, on a fast-break bucket by Kristen Forristall at the 13:05 mark.
The Ducks did not concede the lead again, and Ganes' three-pointer with five seconds to play made the final 19-point margin their biggest of the night.
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