Ducks Look To Enhance NCAA Résumé

EUGENE, Ore. -- Over the past two months, the Oregon women's basketball team has proven itself capable of competing with the best the Pac-12 Conference has to offer.

For a team with NCAA Tournament aspirations, navigating the rigors of the Pac-12 is a positive sign. In the latest version of "Bracketology" by ESPN's Charlie Creme, the Ducks are holding strong with a No. 8 seed into the Big Dance.

But with three weeks left in the regular season, UO coach Kelly Graves wants to leave nothing to chance. Earlier this week, as the Ducks prepared to face No. 15 UCLA on Friday (6 p.m., Pac-12 Network), Graves broke down Oregon's tournament résumé, including a 15-9 record with seven losses to ranked teams, and an RPI of No. 37 entering games around the country Thursday.

"I know some people don't believe in doing that, but I just thought it was good for these kids to understand what we're shooting for," Graves said Thursday. "A win against UCLA would go a long way toward enhancing a postseason résumé, no doubt."

The Ducks (15-9, 5-7 Pac-12) enter this week having lost three of four, with a caveat – all three losses were to ranked teams, as six of their seven defeats in conference play have been. The UO women were swept in two games with No. 11 Oregon State to close out January, before a split on the road last week that ended with a loss at No. 23 Arizona State.

Oregon began the year 4-0 in games decided by six points or loss – including a three-point win at No. 20 California on Jan. 8 – but that magic has eluded the Ducks in their three losses to ranked teams over the last two weeks. Those three defeats came by a total of 15 points. Nevertheless, they persist.

"We still have confidence," UO freshman Ruthy Hebard said. "We know we can hang in with the top teams, and hopefully we can show it this Friday – this whole weekend."

Hebard had 29 points and nine rebounds the first time the Ducks met the Bruins (18-5, 9-3) this season. Sabrina Ionescu also had a strong showing, with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. But the rest of the UO roster was held in check by UCLA's pressure.

That included sophomore point guard Maite Cazorla, who at that point was at the lowest depths of her battle with a foot injury. Cazorla has been a different player the last two weeks – and will be again Friday, the Ducks hope.

"She wasn't healthy, and against a team like UCLA you've got to be 100 percent, because of the pressure they put on you," Graves said. "So she's healthy, No. 1, and No. 2 she's more aggressive. It was about this time last year she turned it on, and we need it. We're a different team when she plays like that."

Graves also predicted that freshman guard Morgan Yaeger will be a factor down the stretch for the Ducks, as they make a push for an NCAA Tournament spot. Yaeger had her best performance of Pac-12 play so far this season at Arizona State last week, scoring 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

"We don't have a ton of playmakers, and she is one, who can create a shot for herself or others," Graves said.

For a team looking to finish a few more plays down the stretch and get back to pulling out close games, that's a welcome addition.

"For the most part we're getting the ball to the right people; we just haven't made the play," Graves said. "That's something you learn – you learn how to win games at the end. The positive thing is, we're in those games and we have a chance. Now we've just got to finish it."

There's no better time than Friday night, when the Ducks host the Bruins with a prime chance to enhance their tournament credentials.

"It's exciting, because we know we can do it," Hebard said. "We're looking toward the tournament, but we're also looking just at UCLA right now. Being able to hopefully beat them and get a good win at home is going to boost us going into the tournament."