Hall Eager To Make UO Debut

Before she could finally suit up for the Oregon women's basketball team, Justine Hall had to endure one more game on the bench in street clothes.

Hall, a 5-foot-10 junior from Denver, joined the Ducks last fall as a midyear transfer from Purdue. She had to wait until the completion of fall term this year before suiting up at Oregon — up to and including Friday's win over Portland, which was played on the last day of finals week.

By that time, Hall had watched a full season's worth of games from the bench. But, as the carrot of finally suiting up dangled just in front of her face, Friday's was different.

"It definitely was," Hall said following the Ducks' 81-41 win over Portland. "I was like, 'This is the last one I have to sit. I just can't wait to get out there and help my teammates out.'"

Hall's first possible chance to do so comes Monday, when the Ducks play at Clemson at 4 p.m. PT. Having completed the fall term academically, she'll be in uniform for the UO women when they take the court against the unbeaten Tigers (8-0).

Hall, a former top-100 recruit nationally and Gatorade state player of the year in Colorado, has been anticipating the matchup for weeks.

"I'm mostly excited; a little bit of nerves," she said. "But I'm just ready to get out there. It's been a while and I just can't wait to play."

Monday's matchup features the fireworks of the Oregon offense, which is 12th nationally in field-goal percentage (.482), against the stout Tigers, who are 17th in field-goal percentage defense (.333). The Ducks are scoring 80.9 points per game; Clemson averages 67.9

If the Tigers are able to establish a grind-it-out, defensive game, Hall could be an asset immediately for the Ducks. UO coach Kelly Graves has spent the last year impressing on Hall her potential to be a defensive stopper.

"I never really believed in my ability on defense, as much as he did, per se," Hall said. "I was never really, like, 'Yeah, I can get up into people.' Now I know that I can. …

"I definitely just want to come in the game and bring good energy for the whole team. And be a really good defender — long on defense, bring energy on defense. And then score when I'm open."

Graves has already been wrestling with the challenge of a deep bench, and Hall provides yet another asset. The Ducks have played eight games, and 13 players have seen the court in all eight; the other one, Lydia Giomi, is sidelined for the foreseeable future with a hand injury.

Still, Graves indicated Hall could be in the mix right off the bat.

"It's been a long, long year for her," the UO coach said. "She's playing really well. She's going to help us. She's going to come in, and I expect her to be a contributor."
Hall said she's been practicing with the regular rotation since arriving at Oregon a year ago. So there's been no crash course to get her up to speed as the end of her layoff approached.

All that's left to do, perhaps as early is Monday, is finally take the court and make her UO debut.

"I know we have a full team, and everybody comes in and has different roles," Hall said. "Regardless of if I play two minutes or 20 minutes, I'm just going to do whatever I can to help the team win."