University of Oregon
Arizona State
Sun Devils Sneak Past Ducks, 54-47
03/06/05 | Women's Basketball
SAN JOSE, Calif. ? Arizona State capitalized on four Oregon turnovers in the final 2:31 to win 54-47 Sunday afternoon in the semifinals of the State Farm Women's Basketball Pac-10 Tournament at HP Pavilion before 3,521 fans.
Oregon led 47-43 on two Kristen Forristall free throws at the 2:31 mark. Emily Westerberg countered with two running lay-ins to tie it at 47 apiece. A tough turnaround 8-foot baseline jumper by Aubree Johnson gave the Sun Devils a lead they wouldn't lose. Meanwhile, the Ducks missed on their final five field goal attempts in the last five minutes.
“That's what tournament basketball is all about,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “It's staying tight, staying focused and looking after the ball at the end of the game. It is a tough loss because our team really competed well. I think we learned a lot from this game and it will help us in the postseason.”
Arizona State improved to 22-8 on the year while Oregon dropped to 20-9. The Ducks' fate now rests with the NCAA Tournament selection committee. The selection show will be televised live Sun., March 13, at 2 p.m. PST on ESPN. Oregon's last NCAA Tourney appearance was in 2001 as Oregon lost to Iowa at Salt Lake City.
Oregon grabbed its largest lead of the game at 37-29 with 13:19 left, thanks to a suffocating defense that forced Arizona State into 1-of-16 shooting to open the second half. The Sun Devils chipped away at the lead and tied it at 37 all on a Westerberg lay-in.
“When we let our defense work instead of our offense, we're great,” said Westerberg, who had a game-high eight rebounds. “We got a few stops and became clutch with some baskets and I think that's what turned the momentum around.”
Cathrine Kraayeveld led Oregon with 14 points while Andrea Bills was the Ducks' other double-digit scorer with 11 to go with five rebounds. Johnson had 14 to lead Arizona State and Westerberg scored 12.
“We've learned how to play in the final few minutes over the last couple of years,” Bills said. “(Today) we had mental mistakes, a few turnovers and didn't play tough enough defense.”
Oregon forced Arizona State into 31.6 percent shooting while the Ducks made 36.7 percent, but just 29 percent after halftime.
Corrie Mizusawa, who had eight points, five rebounds and three assists for the Ducks, set the single-season assists standard with 193. She claimed the record on a pass to Kraayeveld for a lay-up four-and-a-half minutes into the game. Bills also established another milestone by playing in her 121st career game ? second all-time at Oregon to Jenny Mowe's 124.
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