Sunday, December 17
Eugene, OR
11:00 AM
University of Oregon
61
vs
48
UTSA
Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com
Williams Makes UO Debut, Helps Graves To 600th D-I Victory
12/17/23 | Women's Basketball
Priscilla Williams scored 13 points in her first appearance with the UO women's basketball team Sunday.
EUGENE, Ore. — Sunday's matinee at Matthew Knight Arena was a landmark in the recent history of UO women's basketball, and potentially also for the program's near future.
Oregon coach Kelly Graves was honored for his 600th career win at the Division-I level following Sunday's game, a 61-48 win for the Ducks over UTSA before 5,549 fans in Matthew Knight Arena. On a day when the Ducks saw UTSA try to bottle them up in the post, the UO women were led by guards Chance Gray and Priscilla Williams, the latter in her Oregon debut.
Gray had 14 points, four assists and four rebounds to lead the Ducks (8-3), who completed an unbeaten four-game homestand with the win. Williams added 13 points, and Grace VanSlooten added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Williams played for the first time since arriving at Oregon following the second transfer of her career; earlier this week, a federal court ruling resulted in such players being deemed immediately eligible to play, at least in the short term.
"Obviously I hadn't played in a long time," said Williams, a rangy, athletic wing who can handle the ball, and who played last season with South Florida following two years at Syracuse. "So it was good to get back out here. Obviously there's some things I need to work on, but it's fun to be back with my team and finally be able to practice with them and play in a game."
The Ducks never trailed Sunday, but they led by just five with 4 minutes to play before ending the game on an 8-0 run. The team then swarmed Graves in recognition of his 600th win — 66 with Saint Mary's, 316 at Gonzaga and now 218 for the Ducks.
"It's real special," Graves said of the jubilant reaction from the Ducks. "I really like this team. They're really good people, top to bottom. The chemistry is great, they're very coachable, they work hard. That was special."
How It Happened: On a day UTSA focused its pressure on UO post Phillipina Kyei — she finished with seven points and seven rebounds — Gray got the Ducks going with a three-pointer to open the scoring. It was 7-4 when Sofia Bell and then Williams hit two more threes within the space of a minute, with Williams scoring just 40 seconds after checking into the game.
"Oh, it felt amazing," she said of her initial UO basket. "I'm like, oh, I'm back for real. It just felt good, making a shot, seeing the ball go through the hoop."
The Ducks led 15-8 after one quarter, then scored the first six points of the second, capped by a three-point play from VanSlooten. UTSA closed the second half on a 10-3 run to get within 26-20 at the break, with Williams providing Oregon's points during that stretch with another made three-pointer.
"It was awesome to see her out on the floor, first of all, and then to have an impact like she did," Graves said. "I thought she played great."
UTSA outrebounded Oregon in the game, 57-36, and had 27 offensive boards. Those led to just 14 second-chance points, but six came in the third period. That was the Ducks' most prolific offensive quarter of the game, with 19 points, but UTSA's second-chance points kept it close and the score was 45-37 entering the fourth.
"I don't think there's really an explanation, other than we have to box out and rebound," VanSlooten said. "We've seen it happen over a couple of games. So at some point we've got to lock in and just figure out that everybody's got to box out a man and then go get the ball."
After another three-pointer by Bell gave Oregon a 51-42 lead with 7:16 to play, UTSA went on a 6-2 run and closed within five at 53-48. But the Ducks didn't allow another point over the final four minutes, and they sealed the win from the free-throw line.
Up Next: Following the game the Ducks left for the two-game Trailblazer Classic in Utah this week, beginning at Utah Tech on Tuesday (1 p.m., ESPN+).
Oregon coach Kelly Graves was honored for his 600th career win at the Division-I level following Sunday's game, a 61-48 win for the Ducks over UTSA before 5,549 fans in Matthew Knight Arena. On a day when the Ducks saw UTSA try to bottle them up in the post, the UO women were led by guards Chance Gray and Priscilla Williams, the latter in her Oregon debut.
Gray had 14 points, four assists and four rebounds to lead the Ducks (8-3), who completed an unbeaten four-game homestand with the win. Williams added 13 points, and Grace VanSlooten added 10 points and 10 rebounds.
Williams played for the first time since arriving at Oregon following the second transfer of her career; earlier this week, a federal court ruling resulted in such players being deemed immediately eligible to play, at least in the short term.
"Obviously I hadn't played in a long time," said Williams, a rangy, athletic wing who can handle the ball, and who played last season with South Florida following two years at Syracuse. "So it was good to get back out here. Obviously there's some things I need to work on, but it's fun to be back with my team and finally be able to practice with them and play in a game."
The Ducks never trailed Sunday, but they led by just five with 4 minutes to play before ending the game on an 8-0 run. The team then swarmed Graves in recognition of his 600th win — 66 with Saint Mary's, 316 at Gonzaga and now 218 for the Ducks.
"It's real special," Graves said of the jubilant reaction from the Ducks. "I really like this team. They're really good people, top to bottom. The chemistry is great, they're very coachable, they work hard. That was special."
How It Happened: On a day UTSA focused its pressure on UO post Phillipina Kyei — she finished with seven points and seven rebounds — Gray got the Ducks going with a three-pointer to open the scoring. It was 7-4 when Sofia Bell and then Williams hit two more threes within the space of a minute, with Williams scoring just 40 seconds after checking into the game.
"Oh, it felt amazing," she said of her initial UO basket. "I'm like, oh, I'm back for real. It just felt good, making a shot, seeing the ball go through the hoop."
The Ducks led 15-8 after one quarter, then scored the first six points of the second, capped by a three-point play from VanSlooten. UTSA closed the second half on a 10-3 run to get within 26-20 at the break, with Williams providing Oregon's points during that stretch with another made three-pointer.
"It was awesome to see her out on the floor, first of all, and then to have an impact like she did," Graves said. "I thought she played great."
UTSA outrebounded Oregon in the game, 57-36, and had 27 offensive boards. Those led to just 14 second-chance points, but six came in the third period. That was the Ducks' most prolific offensive quarter of the game, with 19 points, but UTSA's second-chance points kept it close and the score was 45-37 entering the fourth.
"I don't think there's really an explanation, other than we have to box out and rebound," VanSlooten said. "We've seen it happen over a couple of games. So at some point we've got to lock in and just figure out that everybody's got to box out a man and then go get the ball."
After another three-pointer by Bell gave Oregon a 51-42 lead with 7:16 to play, UTSA went on a 6-2 run and closed within five at 53-48. But the Ducks didn't allow another point over the final four minutes, and they sealed the win from the free-throw line.
Up Next: Following the game the Ducks left for the two-game Trailblazer Classic in Utah this week, beginning at Utah Tech on Tuesday (1 p.m., ESPN+).
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's Basketball
C
/ 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
