BERKELEY, Calif.
? Oregon's impressive effort to
knock off ninth-ranked Cal fell
heartbreakingly short on Thursday night as, the Bears responded late to keep
their undefeated Pac-10 record unblemished.
Led by Ashley Walker, Cal came back from a halftime deficit
and walked away with a 61-52 victory
It marked the first time this season that Oregon
has had a lead at the break, and left without the win.
No. 9 Cal improves to 14-2 and an undefeated 5-0 in the
Pac-10, while despite a valiant effort, Oregon
falls to 8-7 overall and an even 2-2 in conference.
“I thought that we were the aggressor tonight,” head coach
Bev Smith said. “Anytime you keep Cal
to 61 points that is a great effort.”
Cal boasts an
imposing tandem under the basket with Walker
and reigning Pac-10 Player of the Year Devanei Hampton in the frontcourt.
Walker took
things over in the second half, scoring 17 of her game-high 25. The Bears also
shot 41.4 percent in the second half, while Oregon
shot 31.0 percent, after a 43.5 effort in the first 20 minutes.
The Ducks had three players finish in double figures, led by
Taylor Lilley's 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.
Lilley's first three-pointer of the game, brought Oregon
within 53-46 with 1:19 to go. The
sophomore then dropped a second trey, to again bring the Ducks within seven,
56-49, as only 51.2 seconds remained. Lilley added a third three-pointer with
less than five seconds ticking.
Micaela Cocks finished with 13 points and a career and
game-high nine rebounds. Ellyce Ironmonger added 10 points.
Cal took its
first lead of the second half, 32-31, during a 7-0 run. Kelsey Adrian knocked
down a trey on the wing, and Natasha Vital finished off a drive to the basket
as the shot clock sounded on Cal's
next offensive possession.
Walker then
outhussled Oregon to an offensive
board, giving the Bears a 34-31 lead with 13:26
left.
The tide changed for Oregon
when Walker got to work, and
Ironmonger picked up two quick fouls, one on each end, with 15:50 left.
“You could see them gaining confidence with Ellyce out of
the game...she is a real weapon for us,” Smith said. “Ellie (Manou) came in and
got some great boards, but she is still not 100 percent.”
The Ducks had a 29-23 lead in the second half after a
15-foot jumper from Ironmonger, but Walker
responded with a drive and make, as well as two free throws on the following Cal
possession.
Oregon went
into the locker room at halftime nursing a slim 24-22 lead over the
ninth-ranked team in the nation.
The Ducks twice came back from two early five-point deficits
when the Bears scored on their first two possessions of the game.
With 11:51 to go
in the first, Oregon trailed
12-13 after Ironmonger nailed her first three-pointer of the season. Manou
followed with a putback on the Ducks' next possession, giving Oregon
its first lead of the game, 14-13.
The Ducks built their advantage to four points, 24-20, with
just over three minutes remaining after a Manou defensive rebound led to a
fastbreak for Oregon. Lilley
finished the play with a layup, while Kaela Chapdelaine provided the assist.
The Ducks shot 43.5 percent (10-23) in the first half, again
spreading the ball around as five different players scored, led by Ironmonger
and Cocks with seven apiece. Oregon
broke Cal's press effectively,
while Manou provided endless rebounding under the basket with seven.
Oregon's
man-to-man defense kept the Bears at bay, as Cal
struggled shooting just 37.0 percent. Walker
led Cal in scoring with eight, and
the Bears were outrebounded 17-12.
Oregon will
play its second top-10 opponent, No. 7 Stanford, at 2 p.m. on Saturday in Maples Pavilion.
QUICK QUACKS: A broadcast of tonight's game will air on Comcast SportsNet (channel 37) at 10 a.m. tomorrow.
