CANCUN ? Oregon
ended its non-conference season impressively, furnishing a 67-56 victory over Tulsa
on Wednesday night at the Moon Palace Resort.
Oregon
sophomore guard Taylor Lilley led her squad with a season and game-high 24 points.
The Newhall, Calif., native
knocked down a career-best six three-pointers, leading the Ducks in scoring for
the fifth time this season.
The Ducks (6-5) finished their competition at the Caribbean
Classic 1-1, and will take time off for the holidays before returning to Eugene
to prepare for their Pacific-10 Conference opener at Oregon
State on Sat., Dec. 29.
Playing 39 minutes on the floor, freshman forward Ellyce
Ironmonger added 18 points (tying her career high) and seven rebounds, shooting
8-of-15 from the floor.
Tulsa (3-9) was
led by Tatum Beer's 14-point (5-of-10) performance, while Larissa Williams
chipped in 10 points, seven rebounds and five blocks.
A team effort on the floor placed Oregon
in the win column as senior guard Tamika Nurse scored nine, and two second-half
three-pointers from Micaela Cocks gave her six points and three assists.
The Ducks shot 44.6 percent from the floor and drained a
season-high 10 three-pointers. Oregon
also was limited to a season-low 11 turnovers, while forcing the Hurricanes
into 15 miscues.
Tulsa opened the
second half on an 8-4 run, highlighted by Beer's three-pointer from two-feet
behind the arc. Her first long distance basket brought the Hurricanes within
two at 29-31.
But Oregon
used its own sharp shooter, Lilley, on its next possession to answer back with
her fourth three-pointer of the night.
Oregon jumped
out to an early 7-0 lead in the first two minutes of the game with Lilley and
Ironmonger getting on the scoreboard. Tulsa
was unable to find the basket until the 14:15
mark of the first half when Williams sank a pair of free throws.
While both offenses struggled, Oregon's
lead reached double digits, 18-8, with 6:34
to go after Kaela Chapdelaine knocked down a shot from the elbow. Tulsa
then pieced together a 7-0 run, but that was ended when Oregon
freshman point guard Nia Jackson pulled up from behind the arc to hit her first
basket of the game.
It was the Seattle
native's second three-pointer in as many games, after taking only one look from
long distance in nine games prior.
Lilley led her squad with 11 first-half points, knocking
down three treys. Ironmonger followed with eight points and four rebounds. The
Ducks shot 35.7 percent from the floor and forced Tulsa
into 11 first-half turnovers.
Oregon's
Pac-10 opener with the Beavers will be televised on Fox Sports Northwest at 3 p.m., on Sat., Oct. 29.
QUICK QUACKS: The Ducks were without freshman forward Ellie
Manou for the second-straight game, she is day-to-day with a foot injury...freshman
forward Nicole Canepa was lost at the start of the game on the toss...she has
been diagnosed with a sprained ankle.
