Ducks Claim Pac-12 Regular Season Title

Sunday, February 25

Tucson, Ariz.

11:00 AM

University of Oregon

27-4 (16-2)

Arizona

6-23 (2-16)

Oregon

Arizona

02/25/18 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Regular Season Stats

TUCSON, Ariz. — The No. 8 Oregon Ducks clinched their first outright Pac-12 Conference championship since 1999-2000 with a 74-61 victory over Arizona at the McKale Center on Sunday afternoon.

The victory also extended the program record for wins for the Ducks (27-4, 16-2), and they set a new school record for conference wins.

Ruthy Hebard led the way for the Ducks with 24 points, and senior Lexi Bando hit five three-pointers, including four in the second half, to finish with 15. Sabrina Ionescu finished with 16 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.

The conference championship caps an incredible turnaround for Oregon under head coach Kelly Graves, who took over a program that had not been to the NCAA Tournament since 2005 and had not a won a conference title since 2000. The Ducks are now conference champs and a top 10 program heading into what will be their second consecutive trip to March Madness.

"This is really special," said Graves. "As coaches, we get into the business to help players realize their dreams and their potential. This team is realizing those right now. That's why I get emotional, because I'm so happy for them. To see the joy in their eyes and the reward for the hard work they put in over 18 games, that's not easy in a conference like this, and they did it. I'm really happy for them."

Bando, a senior from Eugene, was the first recruit to sign with Graves and his staff after they took over the program in 2014,

"Winning the conference championship is just such a surreal feeling," Bando said. "To see where the program has gone from my freshman year to now is just incredible and very well-deserved."

With the regular season title, Oregon will be the No. 1 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle next week. The Ducks will play the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 seeds on Friday at 11:30 a.m. at Key Arena.

How it Happened: Arizona played Oregon tough and had an 18-10 run in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to five at the 3:30 mark, but Bando hit consecutive three-pointers to extend the lead to 11 and put the game out of reach. The Ducks dominated on the glass, as Oregon finished with a 38-25 advantage in rebounds over Arizona.

Oregon shot 60 percent in the fourth quarter, including four three-pointers, and the Ducks finished the game 11-of-22 from behind the arc.

Ionescu hit a three-pointer five seconds into the game, and the Ducks never looked back. Hebard was outstanding in the first half, contributing 13 points, including seven in the second quarter.

Bando hit a three-pointer late with three seconds remaining in the first quarter to give Oregon a 19-13 lead after one. Bando's three jump-started an 11-3 run until midway through the second quarter, as the Ducks extended their lead to as much as 11. Consecutive baskets by Maite Cazorla and Hebard gave the Ducks a 33-23 lead at halftime.

Overall, the Ducks were 5-of-10 from three-point range in the first half, with the five threes made by four different players (Bando, Cazorla, Justine Hall, and Ionescu). Oregon's defense limited the Wildcats to 35.2 percent shooting in the first half, while the Ducks owned a 19-12 rebounding advantage.

Ionescu hit consecutive three-pointers early in the third quarter, and at the six-minute mark, Hebard's free throw completed a three-point play and culminated a 13-4 run that extended Oregon's lead to 16. After an Arizona-three pointer, Cazorla scored six consecutive points, and another basket from Ionescu gave Oregon its largest lead of the game at 19.

Arizona closed out the third quarter on an 8-2 run, but the Ducks maintained a 13-point lead through three, 54-41.

Who Stood Out: Hebard went 8-of-13 from the field and finished with 24 points and nine rebounds, including an 8-of-11 from the free throw line. Bando's five three-pointers played a huge role in the win, and she finished with 15 points in 24 minutes. Ionescu finished with 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds.

What It Means: The win means that the Oregon Ducks are the outright Pac-12 Conference champions for the first time in 18 years (1999-2000). The Ducks will have the No. 1 seed in next week's conference tournament. Oregon also extended its school record for wins to 27 and set a new UO record for conference wins with 16.

Up Next: The Ducks begin play in the Pac-12 Tournament on Friday at Key Arena in Seattle. As the No. 1 seed, Oregon with take on the winner of the No. 8 vs. No. 9 game.