Late Defensive Stop Gives Ducks The Win

Tuesday, December 20

Eugene, OR

12:00 PM

University of Oregon

10-2

Idaho

4-6

Idaho

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

12/20/16 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 73, Idaho 70 Postgame Quotes

Oregon beat Idaho 73-70 on Tuesday, forcing a miss at the buzzer to finish nonconference play at 10-2.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon women survived a tough test against a gritty Idaho squad in a Tuesday matinee, forcing a miss as time expired to win 73-70 before 2,088 fans who gathered in Matthew Knight Arena to see the Ducks' nonconference finale.

How It Happened: The Ducks (10-2) led by as much as 18 early in the fourth quarter, before a late barrage by the Vandals (4-6) turned it into a one possession game. Oregon's last basket was an Oti Gildon jumper for a 73-63 lead with 2:10 to play. Idaho then scored on three straight possessions, while the Ducks got sloppy with the ball. The Vandals had one last chance to tie, inbounding the ball with 2.9 seconds left, but they had to settle for a desperation three-pointer by Geraldine McCorkell that wasn't close.

McCorkell and Mikayla Ferenz otherwise kept Idaho in the game, scoring 23 points apiece on a combined 7-of-15 three-point shooting. The Ducks held Idaho to 1-of-8 on three-pointers in the first quarter, but the Vandals hit 10-of-25 the rest of the way to finish 11-of-33. Oregon responded with its own perimeter trio of Lexi Bando, Justine Hall and Maite Cazorla, who combined to go 11-of-15 from three.

Oregon first went up double digits early in the second quarter, after Hall went up for an offensive rebound to keep possession, and was rewarded when her teammates worked it back around to her for a three-pointer and a 28-18 lead. Another Hall three-pointer made it 34-21, and the Ducks went into halftime up 43-34. In third quarter, Bando appeared to have put the Ducks in control for good, making a trio of three-pointers, the last for a 60-44 lead. Hall made yet another three early in the fourth, for a 65-47 advantage, but the Vandals didn't quit and nearly fought back to force overtime.

Who Stood Out: Cazorla notched a double-double with 14 points and 10 assists, also grabbing two steals. Bando made 5-of-6 three-pointers for a team-high 17 points. Hall's 4-of-5 three-point shooting gave her 12 points, and Gildon and Mallory McGwire each scored nine. Ruthy Hebard led the Ducks with eight rebounds, but was just 2-of-10 shooting, having entered the day leading the NCAA in field-goal percentage with just 15 misses in 11 games.

What It Means: On an afternoon in which Hebard struggled, Sabrina Ionescu remained out with a hand injury and the Ducks had a winter break looming, it perhaps wasn't surprising they struggled to put Idaho away. But they made the last defensive stop when it counted, and maintained some momentum entering conference play.

Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On the way the game played out
"I obviously wish we would have finished a little better. I thought we had some good looks, made some stupid mental turnovers, and let's face it, those guys shot the heck of it. The first thing we put on the board was, if we make them make twos, we win the game. … All in all 11-of-22 isn't a great percentage, but it's still 11 threes."

On wrapping up nonconference play
"This'll be a nice break for everybody, and I think it comes at the right time. And we've done well. … Overall, 10-2 going into Pac-12 play, I feel real good about it. We knew we'd have some ups and downs with a young team, and we've shown that. We showed that today."

Junior wing Justine Hall
On making the transition off a redshirt year the last four games
"I feel like so far the transition has been really good. Just being able to get out there and play with my teammates — especially Maite, who sets me up — and all the other players. It's just awesome to be out there with them."

Notable: Graves said players will have six days completely off beginning Wednesday, before reconvening to practice for their Pac-12 opener. … The two teams combined for 23 made three-pointers, four shy of the record for a game involving the Ducks. … Cazorla's double-double was her first of the season, and the ninth of the season by a UO player.

Up Next: After a 10-day break between games over the holiday season, the Ducks open Pac-12 play against Washington in Matthew Knight Arena on Dec. 30 at 3 p.m.