Wednesday, November 8
Eugene, OR
6:00 PM
University of Oregon
86
vs
60
Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Gray Drops 20 as Ducks Move to 2-0
11/08/23 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. — Chance Gray scored 20 points to lead four players in double figures as the Oregon women's basketball team won for the second time in three days Wednesday, an 86-60 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff before 5,020 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.
The win capped a day of good news and bad news for the Ducks, who announced the signing of recruits Katie Fiso and Faith Ehis Etute, and also a season-ending knee injury for senior guard Peyton Scott. But it ended on a high note as Grace VanSlooten and Phillipina Kyei each finished with double-doubles, and freshman wing Sofia Bell added 14 points.
"I'm proud of the team," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "I thought we played a really good basketball game. … Really proud of them. A good two-game homestand, and now we hit the road."
With Scott on the bench and using crutches following her knee injury in Monday's win over Northern Arizona, fellow senior transfer Kennedi Williams entered the starting lineup. Bell helped pick up the scoring slack, making the first three three-pointers of her collegiate career, and fellow freshman Sarah Rambus played a team-high 18 minutes off the bench.
"That's never an easy circumstance; we love Peyton," Graves said. "Peyton's really important to us. Some kids were emotional when we found on Tuesday, but I thought we handled it well — especially Kennedi."
How It Happened: Two days after Arkansas-Pine Bluff led 25-15 after one quarter at Oregon State, and 46-33 at halftime, the Golden Lions didn't start nearly as well against the Ducks. Oregon didn't allow a point until the 3:17 mark of the first quarter, scoring the first 11 points of the game and leading 17-4 after one quarter.
The game got chippy at times, including early in the second quarter. Gray in particular seemed motivated by that physical tone, making three three-pointers over the course of Oregon's first six possessions of the period as the Ducks increased the lead to 32-13. Gray ultimately had 17 points with five three-pointers by halftime, when the UO women led 43-19.
"I just try to stay (even-keeled) and keep my confidence, and that's how I tried to respond to it," Gray said. "It definitely got a little chippy."
Bell and Kyei each had five points in the third period, when the Ducks took their largest lead of the night at 55-23. Arkansas-Pine Bluff was 0-of-17 from three-point range through three quarters, then went 6-of-6 in the fourth to outscore Oregon in the period, 31-28, and close the margin a bit.
VanSlooten ultimately finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds with six assists, and Kyei added 16 points with 11 rebounds and four assists.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Grand Canyon on Nov. 16 (6 p.m., ESPN+).
The win capped a day of good news and bad news for the Ducks, who announced the signing of recruits Katie Fiso and Faith Ehis Etute, and also a season-ending knee injury for senior guard Peyton Scott. But it ended on a high note as Grace VanSlooten and Phillipina Kyei each finished with double-doubles, and freshman wing Sofia Bell added 14 points.
"I'm proud of the team," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "I thought we played a really good basketball game. … Really proud of them. A good two-game homestand, and now we hit the road."
With Scott on the bench and using crutches following her knee injury in Monday's win over Northern Arizona, fellow senior transfer Kennedi Williams entered the starting lineup. Bell helped pick up the scoring slack, making the first three three-pointers of her collegiate career, and fellow freshman Sarah Rambus played a team-high 18 minutes off the bench.
"That's never an easy circumstance; we love Peyton," Graves said. "Peyton's really important to us. Some kids were emotional when we found on Tuesday, but I thought we handled it well — especially Kennedi."
How It Happened: Two days after Arkansas-Pine Bluff led 25-15 after one quarter at Oregon State, and 46-33 at halftime, the Golden Lions didn't start nearly as well against the Ducks. Oregon didn't allow a point until the 3:17 mark of the first quarter, scoring the first 11 points of the game and leading 17-4 after one quarter.
The game got chippy at times, including early in the second quarter. Gray in particular seemed motivated by that physical tone, making three three-pointers over the course of Oregon's first six possessions of the period as the Ducks increased the lead to 32-13. Gray ultimately had 17 points with five three-pointers by halftime, when the UO women led 43-19.
"I just try to stay (even-keeled) and keep my confidence, and that's how I tried to respond to it," Gray said. "It definitely got a little chippy."
Bell and Kyei each had five points in the third period, when the Ducks took their largest lead of the night at 55-23. Arkansas-Pine Bluff was 0-of-17 from three-point range through three quarters, then went 6-of-6 in the fourth to outscore Oregon in the period, 31-28, and close the margin a bit.
VanSlooten ultimately finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds with six assists, and Kyei added 16 points with 11 rebounds and four assists.
Up Next: The Ducks play at Grand Canyon on Nov. 16 (6 p.m., ESPN+).
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballKatie Fiso: "Stay tuned."
Wednesday, October 15
Ari Long: "Making sure to never be satisfied."
Wednesday, October 15
Kelly Graves: "I really like what I see."
Wednesday, October 15
Kelly Graves | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
