Lots On The Line Thursday At MKA

Some folks host a party. Kelly Graves celebrated his birthday with practice.

The Oregon women's basketball coach marked another birthday Tuesday, and did so with his team. The sixth-ranked Ducks host Stanford in Matthew Knight Arena on Thursday, looking to build momentum after a bounce-back win at Arizona on Sunday, and there was much to work on Tuesday before facing the No. 3 Cardinal.

"Best birthday present I got," Graves said Wednesday. "It was a great practice."

The Ducks bring a 13-2 record into Thursday's marquee showdown, which ESPN will televise at 6 p.m. Oregon's only losses are to No. 5 Louisville and No. 18 Arizona State, the latter last week. But given the UO women's goals for this season, their margin for error is small.

Oregon is looking for its third straight regular-season Pac-12 title, which would strengthen the case for a berth in the NCAA Tournament regional to be played in Portland. And that in turn would strengthen their chances of winning two more NCAA Tournament games than they did last season, when the Ducks reached the Final Four.

"Ultimately we want to win the last six games of the season," Graves said. "That's the ultimate goal. But a win against Stanford will certainly help in that regard."

Oregon's players aren't hiding from the fact that more is at stake Thursday than the outcome of a single game.

"I know there are some big games that we have to win in order to get where we want to be," UO senior Sabrina Ionescu said. "But at the end of the day, every win is just as important, and that's what we're focusing on."

Speaking of Ionescu, Oregon's incomparable star has a chance this weekend to become the program's all-time leading scorer.

Ionescu entered this week with 2,228 career points, 24 short of program record-holder Alison Lang (2,252, 1980-84). Ionescu already is Oregon's all-time leader in assists and three-pointers made.

"She just wakes up motivated to be her best, and to do her best at whatever she's doing that day," Graves said. "That's just who she is.

"I'd put her on the Mount Rushmore of Oregon athletes. But she still has something to prove and something to play for. And I think we all know what that is."

Senior Minyon Moore, who has known Ionescu since they played club basketball together, said Ionescu isn't someone motivated by records or the need to establish a legacy.

"I think she tries to stay consistent, which she has done," Moore said. "She kind of tries to block out the noise, and whatever accolades that come along just come along because of the player she is. I think she's motivated by our team winning, and being able to carry our team to the postseason and hit all the goals we want to hit."

Stanford has opened the season 15-1, and 4-0 in conference play, continuing to roll along under legendary coach Tara VanDerveer.

"They're just so smart — and that's not even a joke about the fact they go to Stanford," Ionescu said. "They're very smart. They know the scout religiously. They know every player's strengths, every player's weaknesses. We'll call out plays and they already know exactly what we're going to run. We're going to have to be able to battle and play our game."

The Cardinal have battled injuries that have sidelined post Maya Dodson all season, and wing DiJonai Carrington for all but five games. It will be a new-look team for fans in Matthew Knight Arena; Stanford's rotation features sophomore twins Lexie and Lacie Hull along with four members of the nation's No. 2 recruit class, including No. 1 overall player Haley Jones.

Stanford didn't play in Eugene last season, but will do so Thursday before what's expected to be a sellout crowd.

"I hope this is an environment that can be intimidating for those young players," Graves said. "But the bottom line is, the crowd won't win the game; the five Ducks that are on the floor are going to win or lose the game. We have to make sure we're focused and ready to go."

University of Oregon Athletics

Players Mentioned

Sabrina Ionescu

Minyon Moore

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