University of Oregon
Arizona
Seniors Shine as Ducks Defeat Arizona 69-51
02/19/05 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. ? It was a sweet senior send-off Saturday for three University of Oregon women's basketball players. Andrea Bills and Cathrine Kraayeveld each had double-doubles while Corrie Mizusawa dished out nine assists to lead the Ducks to a 69-51 win over Arizona before 4,682 vocal McArthur Court fans.
Oregon, now in sole possession of second place in the Pac-10, improved to 18-7 and 11-5 in conference play. Arizona, which had defeated Oregon six times in a row, saw its three-game winning streak end and fell to 18-9 and 10-6.
“I think we had a great game and a great week,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “Our coaching staff is very proud, especially of our defense. The team was very disciplined today. Arizona has an inside-outside game and we stuck to our game plan.”
It was a fitting ending to what could be Oregon's seniors' final home game, where it went undefeated in Pac-10 play at McArthur Court for just the third time in school history and first time since 1999.
“This day came too fast,” Smith said. “All three are exceptional young women. They gave great leadership today.”
Brandi Davis also energized the Ducks with her outside shooting, as she nailed 5-of-12 from 3-point range en route to a team-high 19 points ? the fourth time in the last seven games she has led the team in scoring.
It was truly Oregon's defense that set the tone in the first half. After a Dee-Dee Wheeler four-point play gave Arizona a 16-12 lead with 10:55 left, the Ducks went on a 21-7 run to close the half and never trailed again. Oregon held a team to fewer than 60 points for the 15th time this year and it was the third-lowest scoring output for Arizona this season.
The Ducks opened the second half with a statement ? two 3-pointers by Kraayeveld and another from Davis ? to extend their lead to 42-25 just a minute-and-a-half gone.
“Those 3-point shots hurt,” Arizona coach Joan Bonvicini said. “We tried to start out the second half well, but they were on fire and we were on our heels.”
Oregon hit on a season-high 11-of-26 from long range.
“The 3-pointers were a big key,” Davis said. “But I think our defense really said something today.”
With 14 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, it was Kraayeveld's eighth double-double this year and 27th for her career. Meanwhile, Bills had 10 points and 10 boards for her fourth double-double in 2004-05 and 12th overall.
“There was a lot of emotion coming into this game,” said Kraayeveld on playing on Senior Day. “You just have to channel it and let it push you.”
Wheeler led Arizona with 20 points while Danielle Adefeso added 10. Oregon held Shawntinice Polk to just seven points for the second time this year.
Oregon next hits the road to play No. 4-ranked Stanford on Thursday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at California at 2 p.m. in the Pac-10 regular season finale.
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