Sunday, January 8
Berkeley, CA
1:00 PM
University of Oregon
11-5, 1-3
69
at
66
California
13-3, 1-3
1
2
3
4
F
Oregon
14
16
21
18
69
California
13
19
15
19
66
Photo by: Ariel Nava/Cal Athletics
Ionescu's Dagger Gives Ducks Upset Win
01/08/17 | Women's Basketball
Oregon fought gamely again in the Bay Area and this time was rewarded with a 69-66 victory at No. 20 Cal on Sunday.
BERKELEY, Calif. — Down five in the waning moments Sunday afternoon, Oregon scored eight points in the last 12 seconds, culminating in a Sabrina Ionescu three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Ducks a 69-66 upset of No. 20 California in Haas Pavilion.
How It Happened: Oregon (11-5, 1-3 Pac-12) was up four entering the final period but surrendered the lead as California (13-3, 1-3) mounted a 13-3 run to a 65-59 advantage inside the final minute. The UO comeback began as Ionescu, a Bay Area native making her homecoming for the first time as a freshman, made a jumper with 20 seconds left.
The Golden Bears made one of two free throws at the other end, and Maite Cazorla got the Ducks within 66-64 by hitting a three-pointer with 12 seconds left. As California tried to inbound the ball, Ruthy Hebard tipped it and Cazorla collected it before making a game-tying layup. Oregon fouled on the ensuing inbounds, Cal missed both free throws with 4.4 seconds left and Ionescu nailed the game-winning three from the top of the key as time expired.
Oregon trailed at the half, but Cal superstar Kristine Anigwe picked up her third and fourth fouls in the third quarter, and the Ducks took advantage. The Golden Bears led 38-37 when Anigwe drew her third foul, then mounted a 15-4 run and took a 51-47 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Ducks also had the lead after the first quarter, 14-3, despite two early fouls for starting post Mallory McGwire. Lexi Bando hit two three-pointers in the period, after being denied even a single attempt two days earlier at Stanford. In the second, Cal opened with a 7-0 run that featured five empty possessions by Oregon; the Bears went on to go 4-of-6 from three in the quarter and led 32-30 at the half.
Who Stood Out: Ionescu was 9-of-37 for the weekend until making the dagger at the buzzer. She finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists, against just two turnovers. Bando led the UO women with 17 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting, Cazorla added 14 points with five assists and Hebard scored 13 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
What It Means: The upset on the road was welcome reward for Oregon's hard work through a tough start to Pac-12 play. Infused with confidence, the Ducks will stay on the road with renewed belief in their ability to compete with the class of the conference.
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On Ionescu's game-winning shot
"Sabrina had a tough shooting night, but she made the one that counts. And that's what gamers do. There's no one else we'd rather have taking the shot."
On what the win could mean for the Ducks
"Our kids have stayed upbeat. This is just the kind of jumpstart we need."
Freshman Sabrina Ionescu
On her game-winning shot
"I knew I had to go forward and not backward, so I just pivoted and went. I missed all my shots the whole game, but that one went in. I'm so happy. It's so great to be back home in front of all my friends and family. And I told myself, I'm making this shot, if it comes down to me taking a game-winning shot. And it went in."
Notable: The double-double was the fifth of the season by Hebard. … McGwire played just 12 minutes due to foul trouble. Senior Jacinta Vandenberg played 24 minutes in her place and did yeoman's work against Anigwe, limiting her to 6-of-12 shooting with four turnovers. … Members of Ionescu's Miramonte (Orinda) High and Cal Stars club teams attended the game and gave her a loud cheer when lineups were announced.
Up Next: Oregon's two-week road trip continues at Southern California on Friday (8 p.m., Pac-12).
How It Happened: Oregon (11-5, 1-3 Pac-12) was up four entering the final period but surrendered the lead as California (13-3, 1-3) mounted a 13-3 run to a 65-59 advantage inside the final minute. The UO comeback began as Ionescu, a Bay Area native making her homecoming for the first time as a freshman, made a jumper with 20 seconds left.
The Golden Bears made one of two free throws at the other end, and Maite Cazorla got the Ducks within 66-64 by hitting a three-pointer with 12 seconds left. As California tried to inbound the ball, Ruthy Hebard tipped it and Cazorla collected it before making a game-tying layup. Oregon fouled on the ensuing inbounds, Cal missed both free throws with 4.4 seconds left and Ionescu nailed the game-winning three from the top of the key as time expired.
Here is the final crazy 18 seconds where the Ducks scored 8 points to win, 69-66, at No. 20 California. #GoDucks https://t.co/fPzH4356Ru
— Oregon WBB (@OregonWBB) January 9, 2017
Oregon trailed at the half, but Cal superstar Kristine Anigwe picked up her third and fourth fouls in the third quarter, and the Ducks took advantage. The Golden Bears led 38-37 when Anigwe drew her third foul, then mounted a 15-4 run and took a 51-47 lead in the fourth quarter.
The Ducks also had the lead after the first quarter, 14-3, despite two early fouls for starting post Mallory McGwire. Lexi Bando hit two three-pointers in the period, after being denied even a single attempt two days earlier at Stanford. In the second, Cal opened with a 7-0 run that featured five empty possessions by Oregon; the Bears went on to go 4-of-6 from three in the quarter and led 32-30 at the half.
Who Stood Out: Ionescu was 9-of-37 for the weekend until making the dagger at the buzzer. She finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists, against just two turnovers. Bando led the UO women with 17 points on 5-of-8 three-point shooting, Cazorla added 14 points with five assists and Hebard scored 13 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
What It Means: The upset on the road was welcome reward for Oregon's hard work through a tough start to Pac-12 play. Infused with confidence, the Ducks will stay on the road with renewed belief in their ability to compete with the class of the conference.
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On Ionescu's game-winning shot
"Sabrina had a tough shooting night, but she made the one that counts. And that's what gamers do. There's no one else we'd rather have taking the shot."
On what the win could mean for the Ducks
"Our kids have stayed upbeat. This is just the kind of jumpstart we need."
Freshman Sabrina Ionescu
On her game-winning shot
"I knew I had to go forward and not backward, so I just pivoted and went. I missed all my shots the whole game, but that one went in. I'm so happy. It's so great to be back home in front of all my friends and family. And I told myself, I'm making this shot, if it comes down to me taking a game-winning shot. And it went in."
Notable: The double-double was the fifth of the season by Hebard. … McGwire played just 12 minutes due to foul trouble. Senior Jacinta Vandenberg played 24 minutes in her place and did yeoman's work against Anigwe, limiting her to 6-of-12 shooting with four turnovers. … Members of Ionescu's Miramonte (Orinda) High and Cal Stars club teams attended the game and gave her a loud cheer when lineups were announced.
Up Next: Oregon's two-week road trip continues at Southern California on Friday (8 p.m., Pac-12).
Team Stats
ORE
CAL
FG%
.410
.415
3FG%
.400
.389
FT%
1.000
.652
RB
34
35
TO
11
14
STL
7
5
Game Leaders
Pts
17
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
2
Pts
14
FGM
5
3FGM
2
FTM
2
Pts
13
FGM
6
3FGM
0
FTM
1
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballKatie Fiso: "Stay tuned."
Wednesday, October 15
Ari Long: "Making sure to never be satisfied."
Wednesday, October 15
Kelly Graves: "I really like what I see."
Wednesday, October 15
Kelly Graves | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
