University of Oregon
Washington
Ducks Fall Apart at Washington, 81-57
02/12/05 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE ? The cards were stacked against the Oregon women's basketball team Saturday. First, its best player, Cathrine Kraayeveld, sat on the bench with a virally infected left elbow. Second, the team bus broke down on the way to the game. Third, the Ducks ran into a hot Washington squad who pulled away from Oregon in the second half to win 81-57 before 5,242 at Bank of America Arena.
The loss snapped a four-game win streak for the Ducks, who are 16-7 and 9-5 in the Pac-10. Washington, which won its third in a row over Oregon at home, improved to 11-14 and 7-8.
"Our team is capable of beating Washington," Oregon coach Bev Smith said. "We didn't give (the effort) we needed to today."
The Ducks were hampered by 20 turnovers, gave up 24 offensive rebounds and shot just 27 percent in the second half as the Huskies extended their 41-34 halftime lead, scoring the second half's first 12 points, en route to a 75-45 advantage with 5:02 left.
Oregon clearly missed Kraayeveld's 15-point and nine-rebound averages. She played in the Ducks' win Thursday at Washington State, but developed a swollen elbow ? affecting her range of motion ? Friday and didn't practice. Team doctors tested fluid drawn from her elbow Friday and it came up negative for staph, an infection she suffered in her knee two years ago. Doctors will further evaluate Kraayeveld upon her return to Eugene and her status is listed as day-to-day.
"We would have liked to play Oregon with her there but it wasn't meant to be," Washington coach June Daugherty said. "It didn't change anything that we were going to do."
Freshman forward Kristen Forristall started in Kraayeveld's place and played admirably, scoring a career-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range.
"It was disappointing," said Forristall, who nailed her first seven field goal attempts. "It's tough losing like that on the road. Rebounding was our big problem. We'll work hard in practice this week and bounce back the next game."
Washington outrebounded the much taller Ducks 49-36, including a game-high eight from guard Cameo Hicks, who also scored a team-high 14. Dominique Banks added 13 for Washington.
Gabrielle Richards was Oregon's only other double-figure scorer, netting nine of her 10 points in the second half. Sophomore forward Jessica Shetters added a career-high seven rebounds in a reserve role.
Oregon enters its final Pac-10 homestand this week as it plays host Thursday to Arizona State at 7 p.m. and Saturday to Arizona at 1 p.m. in a game nationally televised by Fox Sports Net.
- www.GoDucks.com -
