Thursday, January 30
Salt Lake City, UT
7:00 PM
University of Oregon
90
at
63
Utah
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Defense Sparks Offensive Fireworks At Utah
01/30/20 | Women's Basketball
The Oregon women's basketball team made 12 straight shots early in Thursday's game to run away from Utah on the way to a 90-63 victory.
SALT LAKE CITY — Satou Sabally scored 23 points and the Oregon women's basketball team got double-doubles from both Ruthy Hebard and Sabrina Ionescu as the No. 3 Ducks cruised past Utah on Thursday, 90-63, before 3,326 fans in the Jon M. Huntsman Center.
After falling behind in the opening minutes, the UO women broke the game open by making 12 straight baskets to jump out to a 33-16 lead early in the second quarter. The run was fueled by defense, as the Ducks had four steals in the first quarter that helped them rack up 12 fastbreak points.
"When we finally got stops we had a better transition, and they couldn't keep up with us," Sabally said. "Minyon (Moore) did a great job of pressuring them, and because of her we were getting deflections and getting steals."
How It Happened: The Ducks (18-2, 8-1 Pac-12) actually trailed in the opening minutes, falling behind 5-0 and then 7-5. But a basket by Moore and a three-pointer by Sabally sparked the run of 12 straight made shots, and the UO women never trailed again. Another Sabally three capped a 10-0 run for a 15-7 lead, and the Ducks scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up 31-16.
Hebard went to work in the second quarter. After Oregon's run of made baskets ended, Hebard got them back on track — the Ducks made another four field-goal attempts in a row, three of them by Hebard to go ahead 43-24. The second quarter ended with a 9-0 run for Oregon, including a basket by Sabally, a three from Ionescu, another bucket for Hebard and the last by Erin Boley.
"We've had those kind of runs this year," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "When we're clicking offensively, we're the best offensive team in the country, and the numbers bear that out. We've just got to be more consistent and play it for 40 minutes instead of just 20."
After shooting 70 percent in the first half, the Ducks were under 40 percent in the second. Oregon's defense remained stout, though, and Utah never got closer than 21, early in the third quarter. Two baskets by Moore got Oregon back on track, and a three-pointer by Boley pushed the lead to 30 at 64-34.
The comfortable lead allowed Graves to go to his bench. Lydia Giomi returned from a two-game absence and had two points in nine minutes, Lucy Cochrane played for the first time after missing six games, and Morgan Yaeger made her first appearance in Pac-12 play.
"We've got to be better, but on a three-game road trip like we've got, with altitude for two of them, it's important that everybody gets some time," Graves said. "Tonight, nobody was overloaded."
Who Stood Out: Sabally was 3-of-4 from three-point range and made all six attempts from the free-throw line. Hebard was 9-of-12 for 21 points from the field, and she had five offensive rebounds among her 13 total. Ionescu was looking to facilitate and took only seven shots, but she finished with 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Moore had six points and six steals, and Boley finished with 11 points.
What It Means: The Ducks showed no letdown after an emotional sweep of Oregon State the week before, and got the three-game road trip off to an impressive start.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Colorado on Saturday (1 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network), before heading to Monday's game at UConn.
After falling behind in the opening minutes, the UO women broke the game open by making 12 straight baskets to jump out to a 33-16 lead early in the second quarter. The run was fueled by defense, as the Ducks had four steals in the first quarter that helped them rack up 12 fastbreak points.
"When we finally got stops we had a better transition, and they couldn't keep up with us," Sabally said. "Minyon (Moore) did a great job of pressuring them, and because of her we were getting deflections and getting steals."
How It Happened: The Ducks (18-2, 8-1 Pac-12) actually trailed in the opening minutes, falling behind 5-0 and then 7-5. But a basket by Moore and a three-pointer by Sabally sparked the run of 12 straight made shots, and the UO women never trailed again. Another Sabally three capped a 10-0 run for a 15-7 lead, and the Ducks scored the final 11 points of the first quarter to go up 31-16.
Hebard went to work in the second quarter. After Oregon's run of made baskets ended, Hebard got them back on track — the Ducks made another four field-goal attempts in a row, three of them by Hebard to go ahead 43-24. The second quarter ended with a 9-0 run for Oregon, including a basket by Sabally, a three from Ionescu, another bucket for Hebard and the last by Erin Boley.
"We've had those kind of runs this year," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "When we're clicking offensively, we're the best offensive team in the country, and the numbers bear that out. We've just got to be more consistent and play it for 40 minutes instead of just 20."
After shooting 70 percent in the first half, the Ducks were under 40 percent in the second. Oregon's defense remained stout, though, and Utah never got closer than 21, early in the third quarter. Two baskets by Moore got Oregon back on track, and a three-pointer by Boley pushed the lead to 30 at 64-34.
The comfortable lead allowed Graves to go to his bench. Lydia Giomi returned from a two-game absence and had two points in nine minutes, Lucy Cochrane played for the first time after missing six games, and Morgan Yaeger made her first appearance in Pac-12 play.
"We've got to be better, but on a three-game road trip like we've got, with altitude for two of them, it's important that everybody gets some time," Graves said. "Tonight, nobody was overloaded."
Who Stood Out: Sabally was 3-of-4 from three-point range and made all six attempts from the free-throw line. Hebard was 9-of-12 for 21 points from the field, and she had five offensive rebounds among her 13 total. Ionescu was looking to facilitate and took only seven shots, but she finished with 10 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds. Moore had six points and six steals, and Boley finished with 11 points.
What It Means: The Ducks showed no letdown after an emotional sweep of Oregon State the week before, and got the three-game road trip off to an impressive start.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Colorado on Saturday (1 p.m. PT, Pac-12 Network), before heading to Monday's game at UConn.
Players Mentioned
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