Lilley Scores 20 In Oregon Victory

Sunday, February 17

Pullman, Wash.

2 p.m.

University of Oregon

Washington State

Taylor Lilley, Women's Basketball 2007-08

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

02/17/08 | Women's Basketball

By: GoDucks.com

PULLMAN, Wash, - It was another close one for Oregon on Saturday afternoon, but this time it was the Ducks who came out victorious, securing a 70-67 victory over Washington State at Friel Court.

The Cougars' Jasmine Williams got into the lane and banked in a jumper to bring Washington State within 68-69 with 21.2 seconds on the clock, but junior point guard Tamika Nurse calmly sank two free throws to extend the Ducks lead back to a three-point margin.

Washington State went the length of the court with 20 seconds left, but Katie Appleton's tying attempt from long distance went off the back iron.

“There was a look of composure and poise with the team,” head coach Bev Smith said. “We knew we were going to go down the floor and get a stop.”

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for Oregon, which improves to 11-15 on the year and 5-10 in the Pacific-10 Conference. The Ducks are currently seventh in the standings, trailing Washington (11-15, 6-8). This was also Oregon's second road win this year.

For the sixth time this season, sophomore guard Taylor Lilley eclipsed the 20-point mark, scoring a game-high 20 points. The Newhall, Calif., native reached double figures for the second straight game, shooting 8-of-14 from the floor and sinking four three-pointers.

Nicole Canepa helped Oregon to its first double-digit lead, 58-48, with 8:07 to go. The San Francisco native completed a three-point play, scoring underneath the basket despite the foul, and sinking the free throw. She ended the game with nine points.

Off the bench, Micaela Cocks provided a punch on offense scoring 12 points on 4-of-5 three-point shooting.

Nurse added 11 points, four rebounds and four assists, while Kaela Chapdelaine scored nine, as well as leading the team with eight rebounds and adding four assists.

Washington State was led by Williams' 19 points, while Appleton returned after missing one game with a sprained ankle, scored 14 points.

Ahead 50-47, Oregon scored five unanswered points, all coming from Lilley to improve the Ducks lead to 55-47 with just under 11 minutes remaining.

A 7-2 run helped Washington State pull within 40-42 in the opening moments of the second half. After turning the ball over just twice in the first 20 minutes, the Ducks had two miscues during the Cougars' run.

Oregon ended the first half on a 14-7 run, taking a 40-33 lead into the locker room. The Ducks trailed by as many as seven, and the Cougars last lead came as late as the 5:18 mark, 26-24.

Lilley was 4-for-5 and hit two three-pointers in the first half to lead both teams with 10 first-half points. Chapdelaine added nine points and five rebounds, while Nurse had seven points and four assists in the early going.

The Ducks shot 41.2 percent and were 7-of-10 from outside the arc.

Washington State shot 53.8 percent (14-26) in the first half as two players, Dickerson and Williams led the Cougars with seven points apiece.

QUICK QUACKS: Oregon's 70 points were the most for the team since a 76-72 victory at Oregon State on Dec. 29.