Another Second Half Comeback Troubles Ducks

Saturday, January 26

Los Angeles, Calif.

2 p.m.

University of Oregon

USC

Photo by: John Giustina

01/26/08 | Women's Basketball

By: GoDucks.com

LOS ANGELES ? For the second straight game, Oregon was unable to hang on to its halftime lead, as USC came from behind to defeat the Ducks, 46-42, denying Oregon a win at the Galen Center on Saturday afternoon.

USC's Kari LaPlante scored 10 second-half points, to lead the Trojans (13-7, 6-3) to victory. USC remains in a two-way tie with UCLA for fourth in the Pac-10 standings. Camille LeNoir scored 14 for USC as well.

The Ducks went cold down the stretch, scoring their last bucket at the 4:40 mark on a layup from Micaela Cocks.

Oregon remains sixth in the Pac-10, with an even 10-10 overall record and a 4-5 mark in the Pac-10.

Sophomore guard Taylor Lilley led Oregon in scoring with 13 points, while senior Kaela Chapdelaine led the Ducks with double-figure rebounds, 12, for the second straight game, establishing a new career high.

Oregon opened up the second half scoring the first six points to take a 31-20 lead. A three-pointer from Ellyce Ironmonger, a layup from Taylor Lilley and a free throw from Victoria Kenyon got the rally going. But USC responded with an 11-0 run of its own, highlighted by a LeNoir three-pointer and tying the game, 31-31, on LaPlante's five-foot jumper in the lane.

Like the UCLA game, Oregon had a spell of turnovers, three consecutive, that led to the Trojans tying the game, but Lilley's third basket from the outside put Oregon ahead 34-31.

The Ducks headed into the halftime break ahead 25-20, led by Ellie Manou under the basket. Manou scored in the paint on Oregon's final two possessions, both second chance opportunities. The first-year player finished the game with six points and 10 rebounds.

Three players; Manou, Lilley and Tamika Nurse each had six points to lead the Ducks in the first half, as the team was shooting 33.3 percent from the floor and more importantly, outrebounding USC, 25-14.

Oregon scored on back-to-back possessions to retake the lead, 19-16, with 3:42 left until halftime. First Ironmonger scored in the post, followed by Nurse's second baseline three-pointer of the game.

Nurse was able to return to the lineup, entering the game at the 13:49 mark, and playing the rest of the way. She was questionable for action after spraining her left shoulder in the first half against UCLA on Thursday.

Lilley scored two three-pointers in the early going, giving the Ducks their first lead, 5-2, at 18:00. Less than one minute later, her second three-pointer, expanded the Ducks advantage to 8-4.

USC shot just .310 (9-29) in the first half, and knocked down only one outside shot, compared to Oregon's four.

The Ducks will return to Eugene, but have a quick turn around, leaving on Wednesday to play the Arizona schools. Oregon's first game is a 6 p.m. PST start at Arizona on Thursday night, before heading to Arizona State for a 10 a.m. PST tip on Saturday. The game against the Sun Devils will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

QUICK QUACKS: The Ducks have never won at the Galen Center in two attempts since its opening on Oct. 21, 2006...Oregon last beat USC on the road, 75-70, on Feb. 27, 2003, at the Sports Arena...the second leg of the Northwest Dodge Dealers Civil War series between the Oregon and Oregon State women's basketball programs at Mac Court on Saturday, March 1, has been moved to a 4 p.m. start time to allow for a full, statewide telecast on the Oregon Sports Network...the game will be seen on KEZI in Eugene, KDRV in Medford, KOHD in Central Oregon, and Comcast Sports Net in Portland and Salem...Oregon also announced that its 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 game with UCLA at Mac Court will be televised in Comcast SportsNet.