Photo by: Samuel Marshall
ASU Up First In The Desert For No. 2 Ducks
01/07/20 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. - After opening Pac-12 play at home with a pair of dominant wins over Colorado and Utah last weekend, the No. 2 ranked Oregon women's basketball team will fly south this weekend to take on Arizona State and No. 18 Arizona in the desert, beginning on Friday night against the Sun Devils at Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.
Game Details
Matchup: #2 Oregon (12-1, 2-0) vs. Arizona State (11-4, 1-2)
Date: Friday, January 10, 2020
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Venue: Desert Financial Arena
Opening Tip: 5:06 p.m. PT
Broadcast Information
TV: Pac-12 Network
PxP: Cindy Brunson | Analyst: Tammy Blackburn
Radio: Oregon Sports Network
PxP: Terry Jonz
Off And Running In Pac-12 Play
The Ducks opened Pac-12 play with a statement win over Colorado on Jan. 3, using explosive offense and suffocating defense in a 104-46 rout of the then-undefeated Buffs. Oregon was led by its "Big Three" of Sabrina Ionescu (21 P, 7 A, 6 R), Ruthy Hebard (21 P, 5 R, 3 B) and Satou Sabally (17 P, 3 R, 3 S), while also getting 33 points from its bench. The Ducks shot 58.0 percent from the floor while holding the Buffs to just a 26.7 mark, and Oregon matched its season-high with 21 forced turnovers. The Ducks used a similar formula two days later in an 88-51 win over Utah, forcing the Utes into 20 total turnovers and just 37.3 percent shooting. Minyon Moore enjoyed a strong game with a season-high 17 points, Hebard (13 P. 12 R) notched her seventh double-double of the season and Ionescu (17 P, 8 R, 7 A) was on triple-double watch, as usual. Oregon saw 10 different players record at least one assist, and eight Ducks made at least one field goal.
Series History
The all-time series between the Ducks and Sun Devils is tied entering Friday's game, 34-34. Oregon has won the last four meetings, including both last season. The Ducks beat ASU 77-71 on 1/18/19 in Eugene, behind a 31-point performance by Sabrina Ionescu. On 3/3/19, the Ducks went into Tempe and clinched the outright Pac-12 regular season title with a 66-59 win, fueled by 19 points from Ionescu and 18 from Satou Sabally.
About The Sun Devils
Arizona State is 1-2 to start Pac-12 play, but the Sun Devils played well in narrow losses to a pair of top-25 teams in Arizona (53-58) and UCLA (66-68). An NCAA Sweet Sixteen team a year ago, the Sun Devils graduated their top two scorers from 2018-19 but brought in USC transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley, who leads the team with 11.5 PPG and 7.3 RPG. Robbi Ryan is second with 8.4 PPG, and six more players are averaging at least 6.0 PPG in a balanced offense. ASU ranks 11th in the Pac-12 with 67.5 PPG, but is 23rd in the nation in scoring defense with just 55.2 PPG allowed.
Moore Breaks Out Against Utah
Minyon Moore has provided a steady presence at the point guard position all season for the Ducks, but the former USC star hadn't put up big numbers in the scoring column until Sunday's win over Utah. The senior scored a season-high 17 points against the Utes while going 7-of-11 from the floor, and she continued to be a bulldog in the defensive end with two steals.
Ionescu Reaches 900 Career Assists
Sabrina Ionescu continued her year of milestones with another big one in UO's win over Colorado on 1/3/20. With seven assists, the senior superstar hit 900 even for her career to become just the 12th player in the history of NCAA women's basketball to join the 900 assists club. Ionescu added seven more on 1/5/20 against Utah to up her total to 907, putting her at No. 10 on the NCAA all-time list entering this weekend's game's in Arizona (full list on page 13).
Hebard Joins 2K Club
Ruthy Hebard reached a big milestone on 1/3/20 against Colorado, becoming just the fifth player in Oregon history to surpass 2,000 career points, along with teammate Sabrina Ionescu. Hebard enters the weekend with 2,019 points, and she is the only active NCAA player to have 2,000+ career points and 1,000+ career rebounds (1,106). Hebard is one of only 12 players in Pac-12 history to reach the 2,000/1,000 milestone.
Ionescu, Moore Lead Dynamic Offense
The Ducks boast the nation's most dynamic and efficient offense, which is navigated by senior guards Sabrina Ionescu and Minyon Moore. Oregon leads the NCAA with a 1.98 assist-to-turnover ratio, with Moore ranking second nationally at 4.43 and Ionescu third at 3.48. The Ducks are second in the country with 22.7 assist per game behind Ionescu's NCAA-leading 8.8 APG, and Moore is in the national top 60 as well at 4.8 APG. UO leads the Pac-12 and is No. 5 nationally with 11.5 turnovers per game.
Shooting The Lights Out
Oregon is among the nation's most efficient shooting teams entering this weekend's action, ranking No. 2 in the NCAA with a 50.3 field goal percentage. One of the biggest factor's in Oregon's efficiency has been its dominance in the paint, where the Ducks own a 250-point advantage and have outscored their opponents every game so far, including a 56-16 advantage over Colorado and a 50-18 advantage against Utah. Ruthy Hebard has elevated Oregon's field goal percentage a great deal as the senior post ranks No. 2 in the nation individually with a 69.7 shooting percentage.
Ramping Up The Defensive Intensity
The Ducks are clearly one of the nation's premiere offensive teams, but they have made it a point over the last several games of turning up the intensity on the defensive end as well. Oregon has held six straight teams to under 60 points, including three to 46 points or less, and have recorded 58 total steals and 23 blocked shots while forcing 108 total turnovers over the last six games. The Ducks' defensive improvement was sparked by a new three-quarter court press implemented during the South Dakota State game, when the Ducks held the Jackrabbits to just 37.2 percent shooting while forcing 13 turnovers, including 10 in the first half. Oregon matched its season-high with 21 forced turnovers in its Pac-12 opener against Colorado, and the Ducks are up to No. 20 nationally in scoring defense at 54.9 PPG allowed.
Steppin' Up And Knockin' Em Down
The Ducks haven't gotten to the free throw line a ton so far this season, but they have been among the nation's best teams at the stripe when they have. Oregon ranks No. 7 in the nation with a 78.2 free throw percentage as a team, and the Ducks' 188 attempts are the fewest of any team in the top 25.
Ducks Boast Improved Depth
Depth was one of Oregon's biggest issues in 2018-19, but the Ducks' bench is much deeper in 2019-20. Jaz Shelley has come on in a big way, erupting for 32 points and a UO record 10 three-pointers on 12/16 against UC Riverside after a 17-point game at Long Beach State. Taylor Chavez has matched Shelley with four double-figure scoring games, headlined by a career-high 25 points on 11/13 vs. Utah State. Lydia Giomi is averaging 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds and had a career-high 18 points in the season-opener, and Holly Winterburn was the Pac-12 freshman of the Week on 12/9 after dropping 17 points against South Dakota State. As a team, Oregon has already had nine different players combine for 49 double-digit scoring performances.
Heating Up From Deep
Oregon struggled a bit from three-point range to open the season, but the Ducks have found their stroke from beyond the arc as of late. After shooting just 32.7 percent (74-226) from deep through the season's first seven games, the Ducks have shot a solid 42.7 percent (56-131) in their last six contests, including a 14-of-24 (58.3%) day on 12/8/19 vs. South Dakota State. As a team, Oregon entered that South Dakota State game ranked 125th in the nation in three-point percentage, and the Ducks have flown up the rankings to No. 31 entering this weekend at 36.4 percent on the season, the No. 2 mark in the Pac-12. Individually, freshman Jaz Shelley leads the Ducks with a 44.3 mark from beyond the arc, good for No. 28 in the NCAA.
Make It 21: Sab Goes Back-to-Back
Sabrina Ionescu leads the nation with three triple-doubles this season, raising her NCAA all-time record to 21 as the senior enters the homestretch of her storied career. Ionescu recorded a triple-double in two straight games to close out 2019 - posting 16 points, a career-high 18 rebounds and 12 assists on 12/16/19 vs. UC Riverside before going off for 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 rebounds on 12/21/19 vs. Kansas State - marking the third time in her career she has reached the milestone in back-to-back games. Ionescu is nearly averaging a triple-double on the season, with marks of 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 8.8 assists per game.
Up Next
No. 2 Oregon will face its first ranked Pac-12 opponent on Sunday when the Ducks take on No. 18 Arizona at 11 a.m. PT on Pac-12 Network.
Game Details
Matchup: #2 Oregon (12-1, 2-0) vs. Arizona State (11-4, 1-2)
Date: Friday, January 10, 2020
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Venue: Desert Financial Arena
Opening Tip: 5:06 p.m. PT
Broadcast Information
TV: Pac-12 Network
PxP: Cindy Brunson | Analyst: Tammy Blackburn
Radio: Oregon Sports Network
PxP: Terry Jonz
Off And Running In Pac-12 Play
The Ducks opened Pac-12 play with a statement win over Colorado on Jan. 3, using explosive offense and suffocating defense in a 104-46 rout of the then-undefeated Buffs. Oregon was led by its "Big Three" of Sabrina Ionescu (21 P, 7 A, 6 R), Ruthy Hebard (21 P, 5 R, 3 B) and Satou Sabally (17 P, 3 R, 3 S), while also getting 33 points from its bench. The Ducks shot 58.0 percent from the floor while holding the Buffs to just a 26.7 mark, and Oregon matched its season-high with 21 forced turnovers. The Ducks used a similar formula two days later in an 88-51 win over Utah, forcing the Utes into 20 total turnovers and just 37.3 percent shooting. Minyon Moore enjoyed a strong game with a season-high 17 points, Hebard (13 P. 12 R) notched her seventh double-double of the season and Ionescu (17 P, 8 R, 7 A) was on triple-double watch, as usual. Oregon saw 10 different players record at least one assist, and eight Ducks made at least one field goal.
Series History
The all-time series between the Ducks and Sun Devils is tied entering Friday's game, 34-34. Oregon has won the last four meetings, including both last season. The Ducks beat ASU 77-71 on 1/18/19 in Eugene, behind a 31-point performance by Sabrina Ionescu. On 3/3/19, the Ducks went into Tempe and clinched the outright Pac-12 regular season title with a 66-59 win, fueled by 19 points from Ionescu and 18 from Satou Sabally.
About The Sun Devils
Arizona State is 1-2 to start Pac-12 play, but the Sun Devils played well in narrow losses to a pair of top-25 teams in Arizona (53-58) and UCLA (66-68). An NCAA Sweet Sixteen team a year ago, the Sun Devils graduated their top two scorers from 2018-19 but brought in USC transfer Ja'Tavia Tapley, who leads the team with 11.5 PPG and 7.3 RPG. Robbi Ryan is second with 8.4 PPG, and six more players are averaging at least 6.0 PPG in a balanced offense. ASU ranks 11th in the Pac-12 with 67.5 PPG, but is 23rd in the nation in scoring defense with just 55.2 PPG allowed.
Moore Breaks Out Against Utah
Minyon Moore has provided a steady presence at the point guard position all season for the Ducks, but the former USC star hadn't put up big numbers in the scoring column until Sunday's win over Utah. The senior scored a season-high 17 points against the Utes while going 7-of-11 from the floor, and she continued to be a bulldog in the defensive end with two steals.
Ionescu Reaches 900 Career Assists
Sabrina Ionescu continued her year of milestones with another big one in UO's win over Colorado on 1/3/20. With seven assists, the senior superstar hit 900 even for her career to become just the 12th player in the history of NCAA women's basketball to join the 900 assists club. Ionescu added seven more on 1/5/20 against Utah to up her total to 907, putting her at No. 10 on the NCAA all-time list entering this weekend's game's in Arizona (full list on page 13).
Hebard Joins 2K Club
Ruthy Hebard reached a big milestone on 1/3/20 against Colorado, becoming just the fifth player in Oregon history to surpass 2,000 career points, along with teammate Sabrina Ionescu. Hebard enters the weekend with 2,019 points, and she is the only active NCAA player to have 2,000+ career points and 1,000+ career rebounds (1,106). Hebard is one of only 12 players in Pac-12 history to reach the 2,000/1,000 milestone.
Ionescu, Moore Lead Dynamic Offense
The Ducks boast the nation's most dynamic and efficient offense, which is navigated by senior guards Sabrina Ionescu and Minyon Moore. Oregon leads the NCAA with a 1.98 assist-to-turnover ratio, with Moore ranking second nationally at 4.43 and Ionescu third at 3.48. The Ducks are second in the country with 22.7 assist per game behind Ionescu's NCAA-leading 8.8 APG, and Moore is in the national top 60 as well at 4.8 APG. UO leads the Pac-12 and is No. 5 nationally with 11.5 turnovers per game.
Shooting The Lights Out
Oregon is among the nation's most efficient shooting teams entering this weekend's action, ranking No. 2 in the NCAA with a 50.3 field goal percentage. One of the biggest factor's in Oregon's efficiency has been its dominance in the paint, where the Ducks own a 250-point advantage and have outscored their opponents every game so far, including a 56-16 advantage over Colorado and a 50-18 advantage against Utah. Ruthy Hebard has elevated Oregon's field goal percentage a great deal as the senior post ranks No. 2 in the nation individually with a 69.7 shooting percentage.
Ramping Up The Defensive Intensity
The Ducks are clearly one of the nation's premiere offensive teams, but they have made it a point over the last several games of turning up the intensity on the defensive end as well. Oregon has held six straight teams to under 60 points, including three to 46 points or less, and have recorded 58 total steals and 23 blocked shots while forcing 108 total turnovers over the last six games. The Ducks' defensive improvement was sparked by a new three-quarter court press implemented during the South Dakota State game, when the Ducks held the Jackrabbits to just 37.2 percent shooting while forcing 13 turnovers, including 10 in the first half. Oregon matched its season-high with 21 forced turnovers in its Pac-12 opener against Colorado, and the Ducks are up to No. 20 nationally in scoring defense at 54.9 PPG allowed.
Steppin' Up And Knockin' Em Down
The Ducks haven't gotten to the free throw line a ton so far this season, but they have been among the nation's best teams at the stripe when they have. Oregon ranks No. 7 in the nation with a 78.2 free throw percentage as a team, and the Ducks' 188 attempts are the fewest of any team in the top 25.
Ducks Boast Improved Depth
Depth was one of Oregon's biggest issues in 2018-19, but the Ducks' bench is much deeper in 2019-20. Jaz Shelley has come on in a big way, erupting for 32 points and a UO record 10 three-pointers on 12/16 against UC Riverside after a 17-point game at Long Beach State. Taylor Chavez has matched Shelley with four double-figure scoring games, headlined by a career-high 25 points on 11/13 vs. Utah State. Lydia Giomi is averaging 5.5 points and 3.8 rebounds and had a career-high 18 points in the season-opener, and Holly Winterburn was the Pac-12 freshman of the Week on 12/9 after dropping 17 points against South Dakota State. As a team, Oregon has already had nine different players combine for 49 double-digit scoring performances.
Heating Up From Deep
Oregon struggled a bit from three-point range to open the season, but the Ducks have found their stroke from beyond the arc as of late. After shooting just 32.7 percent (74-226) from deep through the season's first seven games, the Ducks have shot a solid 42.7 percent (56-131) in their last six contests, including a 14-of-24 (58.3%) day on 12/8/19 vs. South Dakota State. As a team, Oregon entered that South Dakota State game ranked 125th in the nation in three-point percentage, and the Ducks have flown up the rankings to No. 31 entering this weekend at 36.4 percent on the season, the No. 2 mark in the Pac-12. Individually, freshman Jaz Shelley leads the Ducks with a 44.3 mark from beyond the arc, good for No. 28 in the NCAA.
Make It 21: Sab Goes Back-to-Back
Sabrina Ionescu leads the nation with three triple-doubles this season, raising her NCAA all-time record to 21 as the senior enters the homestretch of her storied career. Ionescu recorded a triple-double in two straight games to close out 2019 - posting 16 points, a career-high 18 rebounds and 12 assists on 12/16/19 vs. UC Riverside before going off for 21 points, 10 rebounds and 11 rebounds on 12/21/19 vs. Kansas State - marking the third time in her career she has reached the milestone in back-to-back games. Ionescu is nearly averaging a triple-double on the season, with marks of 15.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and an NCAA-leading 8.8 assists per game.
Up Next
No. 2 Oregon will face its first ranked Pac-12 opponent on Sunday when the Ducks take on No. 18 Arizona at 11 a.m. PT on Pac-12 Network.
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