University of Oregon
South Dakota State
Jackrabbits Outlast Ducks at Mac
11/15/07 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. ? The Oregon women's basketball team is usually the squad
with the sharp three-point shooting, but on Thursday night at Mac
Court, it was South Dakota State's long range buckets that proved to be
the difference in the Jackrabbits' 67-60 victory.
In the first-ever meeting between the two programs, South Dakota
State's high-pressure defense paid huge dividends as Oregon committed
25 turnovers. The Ducks also shot a cold 10.5 percent (2-of-19) from
thee-point range.
“The bottom line was that we just got set back on our heels from
their intensity,” head coach Bev Smith said. “We showed grit at points,
but it needed to be for 40 minutes ? that's what South Dakota State
did.”
Oregon is now 1-1 on its young season, while SDSU remains an undefeated 3-0.
The Jackrabbits' Andrea Verdegan and Kristin Rotert scored 18
points apiece. Verdegan pulled down eight boards, while Rotert dropped
four three-pointers.
Oregon's Ellie Manou led the Ducks with 17 points and eight
rebounds, playing 31 minutes with fellow frontcourt teammate Nicole
Canepa battling foul trouble.
Canepa was a perfect 5-for-5 from the floor scoring 13 points, but
was limited in just 15 minutes on the floor, picking up three fouls in
the first half.
“Oregon is big inside and quick outside,” Verdegan said. “Our
defense won the game. We knew we would have to pressure the outside.
This was a great confidence booster, and our confidence is growing
every game.”
South Dakota State advanced to the fourth round of the WNIT last
year, and similar to Oregon, was eliminated by eventual-champion
Wyoming.
Sophomore Micaela Cocks added 11 points for Oregon on a 5-of-10 shooting night.
The Ducks outrebounded SDSU, 37-29, but the Jackrabbits made 30 trips to the free-throw line, compared to just 12 for Oregon.
“I was disappointed with what happened, but I congratulate the
other team,” Cocks said. “They outplayed us. We stepped back when we
needed to get out on the floor and execute.”
Oregon will return to Mac Court for its final home game in the
team's opening three-game stretch on Tuesday, hosting 2007 NCAA
participant Marquette at 7 p.m.
