Sunday, November 18
Eugene, OR
2:00 PM
University of Oregon
102
vs
82
Buffalo
1
2
3
4
F
Buffalo
16
23
21
22
82
Oregon
26
23
31
22
102
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Well-Rounded Effort Bests Bulls
11/18/18 | Women's Basketball
Sabrina Ionescu had her 12th career triple-double but was the lowest scorer among Oregon's five starters Sunday in a win over Buffalo.
EUGENE, Ore. — Sabrina Ionescu notched her NCAA-record 12th career triple-double Sunday afternoon, but the Oregon women's basketball team showed they're much more than just the reigning Pac-12 player of the year in beating 2017 Sweet Sixteen team Buffalo, 102-82, before 5,205 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.
Ionescu managed her triple-double despite going 1-of-7 from the floor, and committing seven of Oregon's 19 turnovers. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Ruthy Hebard with 24 points, Satou Sabally with 20 and Erin Boley and Maite Cazorla with 15 apiece.
"That was like the worst triple-double I've ever had," Ionescu had. "It almost shouldn't count. But it was nice to have everybody else step up."
How It Happened: The first half was physical and at times lacked flow, perhaps contributing to Oregon's 12 turnovers, off which Buffalo scored 14 points. But the Ducks handled the physical play by getting to the line 21 times in the first half, and making 19. That included an 11-for-11 showing in the first quarter, as Oregon jumped out to a 26-16 lead.
The Ducks pushed the lead to as much as 12 in the second quarter, before Buffalo mounted a late surge. Autumn Jones made a layin off the break and then a three-pointer, getting the Bulls within 44-39 with less than a minute before halftime. But Sabally answered with a three of her own, and Ionescu threaded a bounce pass into the paint for a Morgan Yaeger layin just before the halftime buzzer for a 49-39 lead.
Cierra Dillard had nine points during that second quarter for Buffalo, and she scored another eight in the third on her way to 32 points in the game. But Oregon broke the game open just after halftime with a 9-0 run that included three field goals assisted by Ionescu, and then two free throws by the junior guard. She then capped the third quarter with her first and only field goal of the game, a three-pointer for an 80-60 lead.
In the final quarter, about the only drama was whether Ionescu would secure the 10th rebound she needed for her triple-double. First Sabally and then Hebard beat her to defensive rebounds on consecutive possessions in the final five minutes. But Ionescu grabbed an offensive rebound with 1:22 left, and the crowd erupted in recognition of the achievement.
What It Means: How about we let Hebard handle this one? "I think it just shows that we have great players and we can all step up and produce when we need to," the junior post said. "It gives us a big confidence boost knowing we've got a lot of different threats that can produce over the season."
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
"They were certainly game tonight; we knew they would be. We knew they're a good team, and we knew Dillard was a great player — and she played like it tonight. But it was also a really good performance for us, certainly offensively."
Up Next: The Ducks play this weekend in the Saint Mary's Invite, against UC Riverside on Friday at noon and the host Gaels on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Ionescu managed her triple-double despite going 1-of-7 from the floor, and committing seven of Oregon's 19 turnovers. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Ruthy Hebard with 24 points, Satou Sabally with 20 and Erin Boley and Maite Cazorla with 15 apiece.
"That was like the worst triple-double I've ever had," Ionescu had. "It almost shouldn't count. But it was nice to have everybody else step up."
Take a look at some of Oregon's best plays from their 102-82 win over Buffalo! #GoDucks pic.twitter.com/oe1LL5fQ5h
— Oregon Women's Basketball (@OregonWBB) November 19, 2018
How It Happened: The first half was physical and at times lacked flow, perhaps contributing to Oregon's 12 turnovers, off which Buffalo scored 14 points. But the Ducks handled the physical play by getting to the line 21 times in the first half, and making 19. That included an 11-for-11 showing in the first quarter, as Oregon jumped out to a 26-16 lead.
The Ducks pushed the lead to as much as 12 in the second quarter, before Buffalo mounted a late surge. Autumn Jones made a layin off the break and then a three-pointer, getting the Bulls within 44-39 with less than a minute before halftime. But Sabally answered with a three of her own, and Ionescu threaded a bounce pass into the paint for a Morgan Yaeger layin just before the halftime buzzer for a 49-39 lead.
Cierra Dillard had nine points during that second quarter for Buffalo, and she scored another eight in the third on her way to 32 points in the game. But Oregon broke the game open just after halftime with a 9-0 run that included three field goals assisted by Ionescu, and then two free throws by the junior guard. She then capped the third quarter with her first and only field goal of the game, a three-pointer for an 80-60 lead.
In the final quarter, about the only drama was whether Ionescu would secure the 10th rebound she needed for her triple-double. First Sabally and then Hebard beat her to defensive rebounds on consecutive possessions in the final five minutes. But Ionescu grabbed an offensive rebound with 1:22 left, and the crowd erupted in recognition of the achievement.
What It Means: How about we let Hebard handle this one? "I think it just shows that we have great players and we can all step up and produce when we need to," the junior post said. "It gives us a big confidence boost knowing we've got a lot of different threats that can produce over the season."
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
"They were certainly game tonight; we knew they would be. We knew they're a good team, and we knew Dillard was a great player — and she played like it tonight. But it was also a really good performance for us, certainly offensively."
Up Next: The Ducks play this weekend in the Saint Mary's Invite, against UC Riverside on Friday at noon and the host Gaels on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Team Stats
F-86
F-529
FG%
.418
.549
3FG%
.290
.500
FT%
.850
.895
RB
23
35
TO
11
19
STL
6
2
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
9
Pts
20
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
15
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
6
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
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