Ionescu's Triple-Double Leads Ducks to Win at Clemson

Monday, December 12

Clemson, SC

4:00 PM

University of Oregon

8-1

Clemson

8-1

Team	1	2	3	4	F
Oregon	25	14	26	22	87
Clemson	18	13	13	15	59

Sabrina Ionescu vs. Cal State Bakersfield 2016-17

Ionescu's Triple-Double Leads Ducks to Win at Clemson

12/12/16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Stats

The No. 25 ranked Ducks blasted previously undefeated Clemson, 87-59, on the road.

By: Joe Waltasti

CLEMSON, S.C. – The No. 25 ranked Oregon women's basketball team, playing its first game as a ranked program since 2003, certainly looked the part on Monday night at Littlejohn Coliseum, taking down previously undefeated Clemson, 87-59.

Freshman Sabrina Ionescu tallied the second triple-double of her young career with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Ducks shot 52 percent from the floor and 56 percent from deep against the Tigers, which entered the game with the No. 17 ranked field goal defense in the nation this season (33.3 percent).

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Ducks (8-1) opened the game with a 15-0 run over the first four minutes of the game and never trailed. Ionescu started the game with a three-pointer and had 10 points and four rebounds in the first quarter alone.

Clemson battled back, making it a five-point game, 29-26, with 3:25 left in the second quarter. At that point the Ducks had yet to make a field goal in the second quarter and did not hit a shot in the frame until the 2:23 mark when Ionescu hit a jumper. The Ducks built the lead back up to eight points at halftime, 39-31. Ionescu had team-highs of 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists at the break while Lexi Bando had 10 points on 3-of-6 shooting.

After halftime Maite Cazorla scored the first four points of the third quarter for the Ducks before hitting a three moments later. The Ducks then pushed the lead back up to double-digits on an Ionescu three-pointer, 46-36, with 7:21 left in the third. On an Oti Gildon putback with 1:20 left in the third, the Ducks took their biggest lead of the game to that point, 60-44. A three-pointer by Ionescu to end the third put the Ducks up big, 65-41. Oregon doubled up Clemson in the third quarter, 26-13.

It was more of the same in the fourth quarter. Gildon scored eight points in the fourth to finish with 16 points, matching her career-high. The Ducks shot a blistering 61.8 percent in the second half as they outscored the Tigers, 48-28.

TRIPLE-DOUBLE: Sabrina Ionescu tallied her second triple-double of the season in just her ninth collegiate game with 23 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. It is the sixth triple-double in UO history. Ionescu is just one behind Bev Smith for the program record.

HALL ON THE FLOOR: After transferring from Purdue last season, Justine Hall had to sit out through fall quarter before being eligible for the Ducks. The junior from Denver, Colo., made her debut for the Ducks on Monday night against Clemson as finals for fall quarter ended on Friday. She made her first basket for the Ducks on a layup in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT: The Ducks stay on the road with a showdown against Ole Miss at 4 PM PT on Wednesday.