University of Oregon
Washington
Ducks Muzzle Huskies, 64-50
03/05/05 | Women's Basketball
SAN JOSE, Calif. ? Andrea Bills and Cathrine Kraayeveld each notched double-doubles Saturday as the University of Oregon women's basketball team defeated Washington 64-50 in the quarterfinals of the State Farm Pac-10 Tournament at HP Pavilion.
Kraayeveld had 20 points and 10 boards ? her ninth double-double this year ? while Bills scored 18 and also grabbed 10 rebounds ? as the No. 2-seed Ducks (20-9) won their first conference tournament game since 2002. Washington, which had soundly beaten Oregon in Seattle Feb. 12, ends its season with a 14-16 mark.
“They knew the importance of this game of not only beating Washington to advance in the Pac-10 Tournament, but as well to keep our momentum going and ensure the possibility of an NCAA berth,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “I take my hat off to Washington. I thought they played very tough. I know they had a quick turnaround (after winning vs. Oregon State Friday).”
Oregon, which trailed by as many as seven in the first half, used a 14-2 run the final 5:31 to lead 30-25 at halftime. The Huskies fought back to take a 36-34 lead with 16:24 remaining, but a 3-pointer by Kaela Chapdelaine and baskets by Kraayeveld, Bills and Kristen Forristall sparked the Ducks to an 11-3 run and a lead they would not relinquish.
In all, Oregon dominated the paint, outrebounding Washington 54-39, and scored the majority of its baskets on lay-ups. Last month in Seattle, the Huskies had a 13-rebound advantage as the Ducks played without their leading rebounder Kraayeveld.
“That was the game plan,” said Bills, who made 8-of-12 from the field in only 17 minutes. “We had our teammates, the guards, on the outside looking for us to post inside. We were working really hard.”
Freshman post player Gabrielle Richards also provided a lift off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds to go with two blocked shots. The Huskies, playing without leading scorer Kayla Burt (flu), had one double-digit scorer, Cameo Hicks (17).
“Our outside shots weren't really falling,” said Kraayeveld, whose team made just 2-of-14 from 3-point range. “We figured that out and started penetrating.”
Oregon's defense held Washington, the tournament's No. 7 seed, to its second-fewest points all season and it was the 17th time the Ducks have held a team to under 60 points.
“They're a very good team, very talented,” Washington coach June Daugherty said. “I think they understand who their go-tos are. I thought we played pretty solid in the first half and weren't able to get it done in the second half. Oregon played a great second half.”
It's the 14th time in Oregon's 32-year history it reached the 20-win plateau and likely secures its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2001.
Corrie Mizusawa ran the Oregon offense, finishing with a game-high seven assists, giving her 190 for the season ? tying the school's single-season record set by Jacquie Semeniuk. It was also a milestone for Bills, who played in her 120th straight game (second all-time to Jenny Mowe's school-record 124 games overall) and 101st consecutive start. It was the fourth time this season Bills and Kraayeveld had a double-double in the same game, with the Ducks winning all four.
Oregon will take on No. 4-seed Arizona State (21-8), a 73-71 winner vs. UCLA in the previous game, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in a game televised live by Fox Sports Net.
- www.GoDucks.com -
