Oregon Weekly WBB Release - Week 9
01/05/11 | Women's Basketball
Follow Oregon women's basketball on twitter (@OregonWBB) and facebook.
THIS WEEK
Oregon looks to rebound after a winless start to Pac-10 play. The Ducks return to McArthur Court to host Washington State at 7 p.m., Thursday and Washington at 2 p.m., Saturday.
The Ducks are hosting the final two basketball games to ever be played at Mac Court this weekend, before making the permanent move to Matthew Knight Arena on Jan. 23, 2011.
Washington State at Oregon
• TV: None
• Radio: OSN - THE SCORE 95.3 FM; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Video: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Audio: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Live Blog: www.GoDucks.com
Washington at Oregon
• TV: None
• Radio: OSN - THE SCORE 95.3 FM; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Video: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Audio: O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Live Blog: www.GoDucks.com
PROMOTIONS
Thursday
It will be Dads & Daughters Night on Thursday as the Ducks host Washington State at 7 p.m. Fans can also pick up a voucher at Jerry's Home Improvement and receive two reserved tickets for the price of one.
Oregon will be handing out Throwback T-shirts courtesy of Jerry's Home Improvement to the first 500 fans through the doors, to be worn for Saturday's Mac Court finale against Washington.
Saturday
Oregon will host Throwback Day and the last game ever at McArthur Court against Washington on Saturday. Fans can pick up a $5 off coupon at any Eugene/Springfield BI-Mart, Carl's Jr., and Oregon Community Credit Union location for $5 off a reserved ticket.
The first 100 students through the doors will receive free sweatbands, and the best dressed student in throwback attire will win a round tip flight from Allegiant Air.
Free popcorn will be given out to the fist 150 fans, while commemorative cups will be available at the concessions stands, and commemorative tickets will be handed out at the doors. All events staff including the cheer team, the band and The Duck will be dressed in throwback attire, while an electric guitarist will open the game with the national anthem.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE, calling 1-800-WEB-FOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center ticket office. Tickets can also be purchased at the McArthur Court ticket window 90 minutes prior to game time. The doors to Mac Court open 60 minutes prior to tip.
HELLO MATTHEW KNIGHT ARENA
The Ducks will make their first appearance at Matthew Knight Arena hosting Oregon State in Civil War action on Jan. 23, 2011. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net as UO attempts to Pack Matt.
General admission tickets are currently available online for $2, and will be available on the day of the game at the ticket box office. Fans will also be able to show their BI-Mart card while purchasing a reserved ticket to the Oregon State game on Jan. 23, and will receive a free general admission ticket to the game against California at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.
At the Matthew Knight Arena opener, students in attendance will be able sign up at the guest services booth to win a round trip flight courtesy of Allegiant Air.
The school's sparkling new 12,500 seat venue is scheduled to make its grand opening on Thursday, Jan. 13, when the Oregon men's basketball team faces USC, with tip-off for that contest scheduled for 8 p.m.
ARIZONA STATE RECAP
Oregon left the state of Arizona without a win after the Sun Devils held the Ducks to a season-low on the scoreboard as ASU cruised to a 86-67 victory.
The Ducks (9-4, 0-2) are now on a two-game losing streak for the first time this year as the squad has lost back-to-back games.
Arizona State (10-2, 2-0), now on a seven-game winning streak, held four of Oregon's five starters to single figures in scoring as point guard Nia Jackson led the Ducks with 17 points and four assists.
The Sun Devils' 86 points was a new season best as Arizona State shot 48.5 percent (32-of-66) from the floor and outrebounded Oregon 46-31.
Kimberly Brandon paced ASU with her third double-double of the season scoring a game-high 19 points while grabbing a game-high 12 rebounds. Becca Tobin added 12 points in the post for ASU, while senior guard Dymond Simon added 15 points and four assists.
Oregon was held to a season-low 67 points and one 3-pointer that wasn't knocked down until Victoria Kenyon drained a trey with 5:26 remaining in the game.
The Ducks 19-point margin of defeat was also it largest of the year.
Nicole Canepa added 13 points off the bench for the Ducks, while freshman point guard Ariel Thomas scored 10.
LOOKING BACK
Oregon's 19-point loss at Arizona State was its largest margin of defeat since a 104-60 loss at Stanford on Feb. 18, 2010. The Ducks' 67 points scored was a new season low, and the squad's lowest scoring total since a 71-57 loss to California in the third round of the WNIT on March 25.
UO's senior class will ends its career without a win in Tucson or Tempe, as Oregon recorded its first two-game losing streak this season, and the first back-to-back losses since March 7 and 12, 2010.
PREVIEWING WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State (2-12, 0-2) is currently on a six-game losing streak and opened up Pac-10 play with back-to-back losses in Pullman to USC (72-57) and then-No. 8 UCLA (80-55).
The Cougars are averaging 63.4 points per game, while Carly Noyes lead WSU averaging 9.0 points per game.
Washington State last recorded a victory in Eugene on Feb. 12, 2009, by the score of 58-45.
INJURY UPDATE
Oregon head coach Paul Westhead currently has all 15 student-athletes on his roster available to play.
AT THE LINE
Junior guard Nia Jackson's streak of 21 consecutive free throws made dating back to Oregon's 82-71 win over Denver on Dec. 17, came to an end when she missed the second of two free throws with 13:11 to play in the first half at Arizona State. Shaquala Williams holds Oregon's consecutive free throws record, making 31 straight during the 2001-02 season.
Over the last five games, Jackson has shot a remarkable 89.7 percent (26-of-29) from the free-throw line.
LEADER OF THE PACK
Amanda Johnson 15-game double figure scoring streak was snapped in Tempe on Sunday as the Pac-10's leading scorer averaging 18.5 points per game, was held to a season-low six points.
The Santa Rosa, Calif., native currently leads the Pac-10 with six 20-point scoring efforts this season, and is tied for the league lead with five double-doubles and five double-figure rebounding performances.
After a 16-point performance in Oregon's loss at Arizona on Friday, Johnson had led the Ducks in scoring 10 times this season, including six consecutive contests, but that streak was halted at ASU as well.
MILESTONES
During the Ducks' 109-94 loss at Arizona on Friday, Amanda Johnson eclipsed the 900-point threshold for her career after scoring a team-leading 16 points. In 77 career games, Johnson has scored 910 points for Oregon.
If Johnson is able to reach the 1,000-point mark for her career this season (currently at 910), she will become the ninth player in UO history to complete the feat in their junior year, and the first since Shaquala Williams in the 2001-02 season.
Currently, Johnson's 17 career double-doubles tie for seventh in Oregon history with Renae Fegent, and her 97 career 3-pointers rank 10th in UO all-time history.
Junior point guard Nia Jackson scored the 600th point of her Oregon career with 17 points in the Ducks' loss at Arizona State on Friday.
Jackson became the first Oregon player since Corrie Mizusawa (Feb. 5, 2005), to record double figures in assists. Jackson posted the first double-double of her career with 17 points and a career-best 11 assists in Oregon's Dec. 19, 100-71 win at Saint Mary's.
DOUBLE THE FUN
Junior point guard Nia Jackson has reached double figures in 14 consecutive games dating back to last season, and has led the Ducks in assists 11 times this season.
Jackson currently rests second in the Pac-10 averaging 5.7 assists per game (21st nation), and leads the league in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.85 (48th nation).
The Seattle native's 15.5 points per game rank seventh in the Pac-10, while her 2.6 steals per game rank sixth.
Junior forward Amanda Johnson has led the Ducks in scoring in 10-of-13 opportunities this year. Johnson continues to lead the Pac-10 averaging 18.5 points per game (32nd nation), and her 8.8 rebounds per game rank third in the league while her 2.8 steals per game tie for second.
FORWARD FACTION
Senior forward Victoria Kenyon has found her scoring touch in the Ducks' last four games. The native of Australia scored a season-high 16 points and knocked down three 3-pointers in UO's Dec. 19 win at Saint Mary's. In UO's last four games, Kenyon is averaging 11.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the floor.
Junior forward Jasmin Holliday is in her first season as a fulltime starter, and this year has won 11-of-13 jump balls. The Chino Hills, Calif., native is averaging 9.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game.
FULL-COURT PRESSURE
The Ducks are using their full-court pressure defense and up-tempo offense to disrupt opponents. Currently Oregon is forcing opponents into 26.2 turnovers per game, while the Ducks are second in the Pac-10 and sixth in the country averaging 14.2 steals per game.
UP-TEMPO OFFENSE
Oregon has reached triple digits in scoring three times this season, and is currently averaging 87.2 points per game to lead the Pac-10 and rank second in the nation, trailing only Central Michigan (88.2 ppg).
The Ducks' 7.7 three-pointers per game lead the Pac-10 and rank 19th in the nation, while UO's 17.3 assists per game rank second in the conference and 18th in the nation.
THE STARTING FIVE
Head coach Paul Westhead's starting five has a new look for the 2010-11 season. The Ducks returned three starters from last year's squad, including Nia Jackson, Amanda Johnson and Victoria Kenyon, but lost guards Taylor Lilley and Micaela Cocks to graduation.
Oregon's first player off the bench last season, junior wing Jasmin Holliday, now has a starting spot, and is averaging 9.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. At shooting guard, junior college transfer Ashley Buis has knocked down 21 three-pointers, and is averaging 7.9 points per game, having reached double figures in six contests.
THE ROOKIES
Oregon head coach Paul Westhead has been adamant about using a deep bench in non-conference play this season. All five newcomers, including four freshmen, have seen action on the floor.
Deanna Weaver, who can play either forward position, is currently averaging 8.9 points and 5.3 rebounds per game off the bench. Guard Ariel Thomas is averaging 5.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
CALLING IN THE RESERVES
Oregon has scored 1,134 points this season, with 380 of those points coming from the reserves. In 13 games, Oregon's bench has outscored the opponent's bench 380-286. The Ducks' reserves have been outscored only twice this season, and UO has an 1-1 record in those games. Oregon is 8-2 when its bench outscores the opponent, and 0-1 when the teams' benches are the same in points scored.
WALKING THE RED CARPET
Conference play hasn't begun, but award season has. Amanda Johnson was named Pac-10 Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week on Nov. 29, after helping Oregon to a 3-1 record during the week of Nov. 22-28.
Johnson was voted the Oregon Invitational's Most Valuable Player, and led the Ducks in scoring (20.5 ppg), rebounding (10.8 rpg), steals (15) and blocks (6) during UO's four games from Nov. 22-28.
Junior point guard Nia Jackson was also named to the Oregon Invitational all-tournament team after averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
ON AND OFF THE COURT
Junior Amanda Johnson returns as one of Oregon's most experienced student-athletes, leading the returners in several career categories; points, scoring average, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, rebounds and steals.
Off the court last season, Johnson flourished in the classroom, becoming the first Oregon women's basketball player since 1990 to be named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® University Division second team. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native, was also named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team, and was awarded the Doyle Higdon Memorial Trophy, given annually to a University of Oregon sophomore for excellence in athletics, scholarship and citizenship.
During the summer, Johnson was awarded her undergraduate degree Summa Cum Laude, graduating in the top two percent of her class with a double major in psychology and sociology. She is now pursuing her master's in couples and family therapy.
On the court last year, Johnson was named Pac-10 Honorable Mention after averaging 12.7 points per game with a team-leading (3rd Pac-10) 8.5 rebounds per game. Her 290 total rebounds tied for ninth in Oregon's single-season record book, and she also finished the season with 11 double-doubles, 24 double-figure scoring games and five 20-point efforts.
