Ducks Get A Dub In The Desert

Friday, January 6

Tempe, AZ

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

12-3,3-1Pac-12

Arizona State

7-8,0-4Pac-12

Oregon

Arizona St.

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

01/06/23 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

Oregon blew Friday's game open in the second half to beat Arizona State, 82-62.

By: Rob Moseley

TEMPE, Ariz. — A dominant second half fueled by freshmen gave the Oregon women's basketball team an 82-62 win Friday over Arizona State before 1,876 fans in Desert Financial Arena.

Endyia Rogers was the constant for the Ducks on Friday, with the Pac-12's leading scorer in conference play scoring 11 of her 19 points in the first half as No. 18 Oregon put together a 32-26 lead. The UO women blew the game open after halftime, outscoring ASU 27-14 in the third quarter and 50-36 in the second half overall.

"First half, we were a little sluggish and our shot selection wasn't great, continuity wasn't good," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "And we sure as hell didn't shoot very well. But second half, it was more of the way we like to play."

The Ducks (12-3, 3-1 Pac-12) shot 27 percent in the first half, with freshman starters Grace VanSlooten and Chance Gray combining for zero points on 0-of-8 shooting. They combined for 24 points in the second half, 16 by VanSlooten. Taya Hanson scored 10 of her 13 points after halftime as the ASU transfer enjoyed a successful homecoming, while Phillipina Kyei had 10 points with 18 rebounds.

How It Happened: After Rogers made a three-pointer for Oregon's first bucket, the Ducks missed their next 10 field-goal attempts. Fortunately ASU only was able to build a 10-3 lead during that nearly five-minute stretch without a basket. Te-Hina Paopao made a three to cap a 9-0 run that gave the Ducks their first lead, 12-10, before the Sun Devils rallied back ahead 18-15 through one quarter.

Another three by Paopao got Oregon going in the second, and Kyei scored for a 20-18 lead. She scored again a few minutes later to make it 24-20, before ASU rallied ahead, 26-24. But that was the home team's last lead of the night, as the Ducks closed the first half on an 8-0 run capped by two layups from Rogers in transition.

VanSlooten put a first half marred by early foul trouble behind her quickly, scoring the first basket of the second half. Gray also got her first bucket of the game early in the third, a three-pointer for a 37-26 lead. VanSlooten then scored Oregon's next eight points, and 10 of the Ducks' next 12. Much of that came during an 11-0 run capped by a layup from Gray in transition. The Ducks led by as much as 24 in the third, before taking a 59-40 lead into the final quarter.

"We really ran our stuff," VanSlooten said. "I mean, Kelly came in (at halftime) and said, 'We're just not executing. We're taking terrible shots.' And I think we took that into mind and got it done the second half."

The Ducks opened the fourth with an 11-2 run that included five points from Hanson. That gave the UO women their biggest lead of the night, 70-42. They had provided much to cheer for by a crowd with a distinct Oregon presence — including a large contingent on hand to cheer Arizona native Kennedy Basham, who had five points and six rebounds in her most extensive action yet.

Notable: Rogers surpassed 1,300 points in her career, and recorded her 100th career steal. … Kyei's double-double was the seventh of her career and her fifth this season. … Paopao, who led the NCAA in assist-to-turnover ratio at one point this season, had 13 assists with 18 turnovers over her previous four games. She got back on track Friday with seven assists and just one turnover. … Guard Ahlise Hurst, who celebrated her birthday Friday, missed her second straight game with a lower leg injury.

Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves on the recent play of Kyei, who had 103 rebounds over the last seven games
"That's 38 in the last two games; that's getting it done. I don't know if we've had many in this league have that kind of a two-game stretch."

Freshman Grace VanSlooten on starting off a road trip with a decisive victory
"Second half especially was a lot of fun. I think it gives us a little confidence boost, you know, knowing that we can have that terrible a first half and still come out and win by 20. I think it gives us confidence going forward."

Up Next: The Ducks play at Arizona on Sunday (4 p.m., ESPN2).