Sunday, November 23
Matthew Knight Arena
3:00 PM
University of Oregon
1-1
59
vs
76
#11 North Carolina
4-0
1
2
F
North Carolina
28
48
76
Oregon
29
30
59
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Tar Heels Turn Tide In Second Half to Beat Feisty Ducks
11/24/14 | Women's Basketball
by Rob Moseley
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon women's basketball team survived an off night shooting for the first 20 minutes, leading No. 11 North Carolina at halftime before ultimately losing 76-59 before 2,038 in Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday evening.
How It Happened: On a night the Ducks shot just 29.9 percent as a team, the UO women held the Tar Heels to 32.4 shooting in the first half to forge a 29-28 halftime lead. Oregon was 5-of-18 on three-pointers in the half, and all five makes came in the first 10:04 as the Ducks jumped out to a 25-14 lead. Facing perhaps the best front line in the country in North Carolina's Stephanie Mavunga and Xylina McDaniel, the Ducks held their own in an extremely physical half and went into the break up one thanks to two late baskets from Jillian Alleyne.
The second half was another story, as the Tar Heels were able to exploit that talent in the post to great effect. North Carolina scored the first 12 points of the half, and didn't allow a UO field goal until the 13:35 mark. The Tar Heels eventually led by as much as 23 thanks to 55.9 percent shooting in the second half, but the Ducks kept fighting and shaved the final margin down to 17 points.
Who Stood Out: Alleyne posted the 43rd double-double of her career, finishing with 18 points and 17 rebounds while enduring a 4-of-10 night from the free-throw line. Lexi Bando made 3-of-6 from three-point range on the way to 14 points, and Lexi Petersen added 11 points with four assists. Freshman Tatum Neubert played the most minutes off the bench, 20, providing four points, three rebounds and three assists. Her ability to provide depth up front is paramount while the Ducks wait another couple of weeks for the anticipated return of forward Janitah Iamaleava.
Quotable: "Definitely we were doing a much better job early. We were great on the boards … and I just thought our effort was great. Maybe we wore down a little in the second half; they picked it up. I think it was more them. They were challenged I'm sure at halftime, and they came out and responded to it." — UO coach Kelly Graves
"We kind of lost the flow of our offense a little bit. We started to revert back to our old ways and take quick shots, rather than the right shots. … The first half of the first half was the defense we need to display for the whole game." — Petersen
"I got a whole 'nother side of basketball tonight. Usually in the Pac-12 you don't find girls that big, much less that strong. … I think that's an experience for me I need to use. There's not much more weight I can put on, but I have to be stronger inside. Every little thing they did, I'll learn from, and hopefully we'll see them again." — Alleyne
"I was proud of the team tonight, I really was. I'm not into moral victories, and I told them that. But at the same time, I'm looking for some positives, and I saw a bunch." — Graves
What It Means: The Ducks fell to 1-1 on the season, but proved for at least the first half that their defense can keep them in a game on a night shots aren't falling.
Up Next: The Ducks remain at home to face Portland State on Tuesday in Matthew Knight Arena at 6 p.m.
Editor, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon women's basketball team survived an off night shooting for the first 20 minutes, leading No. 11 North Carolina at halftime before ultimately losing 76-59 before 2,038 in Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday evening.
How It Happened: On a night the Ducks shot just 29.9 percent as a team, the UO women held the Tar Heels to 32.4 shooting in the first half to forge a 29-28 halftime lead. Oregon was 5-of-18 on three-pointers in the half, and all five makes came in the first 10:04 as the Ducks jumped out to a 25-14 lead. Facing perhaps the best front line in the country in North Carolina's Stephanie Mavunga and Xylina McDaniel, the Ducks held their own in an extremely physical half and went into the break up one thanks to two late baskets from Jillian Alleyne.
The second half was another story, as the Tar Heels were able to exploit that talent in the post to great effect. North Carolina scored the first 12 points of the half, and didn't allow a UO field goal until the 13:35 mark. The Tar Heels eventually led by as much as 23 thanks to 55.9 percent shooting in the second half, but the Ducks kept fighting and shaved the final margin down to 17 points.
Who Stood Out: Alleyne posted the 43rd double-double of her career, finishing with 18 points and 17 rebounds while enduring a 4-of-10 night from the free-throw line. Lexi Bando made 3-of-6 from three-point range on the way to 14 points, and Lexi Petersen added 11 points with four assists. Freshman Tatum Neubert played the most minutes off the bench, 20, providing four points, three rebounds and three assists. Her ability to provide depth up front is paramount while the Ducks wait another couple of weeks for the anticipated return of forward Janitah Iamaleava.
Quotable: "Definitely we were doing a much better job early. We were great on the boards … and I just thought our effort was great. Maybe we wore down a little in the second half; they picked it up. I think it was more them. They were challenged I'm sure at halftime, and they came out and responded to it." — UO coach Kelly Graves
"We kind of lost the flow of our offense a little bit. We started to revert back to our old ways and take quick shots, rather than the right shots. … The first half of the first half was the defense we need to display for the whole game." — Petersen
"I got a whole 'nother side of basketball tonight. Usually in the Pac-12 you don't find girls that big, much less that strong. … I think that's an experience for me I need to use. There's not much more weight I can put on, but I have to be stronger inside. Every little thing they did, I'll learn from, and hopefully we'll see them again." — Alleyne
"I was proud of the team tonight, I really was. I'm not into moral victories, and I told them that. But at the same time, I'm looking for some positives, and I saw a bunch." — Graves
What It Means: The Ducks fell to 1-1 on the season, but proved for at least the first half that their defense can keep them in a game on a night shots aren't falling.
Up Next: The Ducks remain at home to face Portland State on Tuesday in Matthew Knight Arena at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
UNC
ORE
FG%
.437
.299
3FG%
.167
.310
FT%
.647
.556
RB
46
42
TO
8
10
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Pts
14
FGM
4
3FGM
3
FTM
3
Pts
11
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
3
Pts
6
FGM
2
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballG/F
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