Second Loss Is Rivalry Heartbreaker

Monday, February 18

Corvallis, OR

6:00 PM

University of Oregon

Oregon State

Oregon

Oregon St.

Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto

02/18/19 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

The Oregon women lost for just the second time this season and suffered their first conference defeat Monday at OSU.

By: Rob Moseley

CORVALLIS — Oregon's perfect run in Pac-12 play ended Monday night against No. 12 Oregon State, as the Ducks fought through an injury to junior post Ruthy Hebard and a cold shooting night on the way to a 67-62 loss in Gill Coliseum.

Hebard, the reigning national power forward of the year, suffered a knee injury early in the second quarter and went through warmups for the second half but didn't return. The Ducks, who moved up to No. 2 in the Associated Press top 25 earlier in the day after a 77-68 win over the Beavers at home Friday, also endured 5-of-22 three-point shooting, their worst of the season.

"Disappointed in the outcome; not disappointed in our effort," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "I thought we played really, really hard and gave ourselves a chance to win under difficult circumstances."

How It Happened: Oregon (24-2, 13-1 Pac-12) fell behind by as many as 11 in the second quarter after Hebard was hurt chasing down an offensive rebound, before mounting a dramatic comeback using a small lineup that featured Erin Boley in the post and Taylor Chavez in the backcourt. A three-pointer from Maite Cazorla and a basket by Boley got the Ducks within 33-27 at halftime, and a three-pointer by Sabrina Ionescu made it 50-48 entering the fourth quarter.

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The Ducks' offensive woes continued in the final period, but they held Oregon State without a point for the first 5:35 of the quarter and went up 52-50 on a pair of baskets by Ionescu. The Beavers answered with a 7-0 run, however, and kept control the rest of the way. Ionescu made three free throws to get Oregon within 63-62 in the final 10 seconds, but she was called for traveling after receiving an inbounds pass following two OSU free throws, ending the Ducks' last gasp.

The Beavers (21-5, 11-3) came out firing, making 4-of-6 three-pointers in the first quarter to jump out to a 20-15 lead. Oregon continued to play disciplined basketball — the Ducks finished with just three turnovers in both Civil War matchups — but the Ducks' shooting was cold from the start. Oregon was just 11-of-33 at halftime, and shot 5-of-18 in the fourth quarter.

"A lot of those were forced," Graves said. "We were out of sync; obviously without Ruthy we had to draw up some stuff on a napkin and go. Second half we played better, but give Oregon State credit."

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Who Stood Out: Ionescu finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and four assists, but needed 25 shots to make her nine field goals and was 0-of-6 from three-point range. Boley was an unsung hero, defending the post as the Ducks went small for the second half without Hebard, and finished with 12 points and four rebounds. Satou Sabally added 12 point and six rebounds, completing two three-point plays early in the second half as the UO women stabilized themselves in Hebard's absence.

What It Means: The Ducks continue to look for a breakthrough in Corvallis, where they haven't won since Jan. 9, 2010. But the more immediate concern is the status of Hebard, about whom Graves said postgame, "Don't know; doesn't look good."

Up Next: The Ducks have a short turnaround before hosting UCLA on Friday (8 p.m., Pac-12 Network).