Thursday, March 2
Las Vegas, NV
2:30 PM
University of Oregon
17-14,7-11Pac-12
65
vs
76
Stanford
28-4,15-3Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Oregon
9
15
21
20
65
Stanford
16
21
21
18
76
Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com
Ducks Lose Despite Paopao's Career Night
03/02/23 | Women's Basketball
Te-Hina Paopao made another seven three-pointers and scored 28 points Thursday, but Stanford defeated Oregon in a Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal.
LAS VEGAS — Oregon went toe-to-toe with Stanford in the second half of their Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinal Thursday, but a 13-point halftime deficit was too much to overcome as the Ducks lost 76-65 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Mandalay Bay.
Junior Te-Hina Paopao set a career high with 28 points, by matching her career high of seven three-pointers. But one night after scoring 10 points in crunch time of a first-round tournament win, senior Endyia Rogers endured a 6-of-26 shooting performance Thursday. Stanford had a 56-39 rebounding advantage, and the Cardinal had 15 offensive rebounds that turned into 13 second-chance points in the first half — those 13 points providing the margin in a 37-24 halftime deficit for the UO women.
"Tonight we just didn't have enough," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "Two areas : We didn't shoot it well — I thought we had some pretty good looks and just didn't shoot it like we normally do — and then the rebounds, the second-chance points. Those were the two areas that really killed us."
The Ducks fell to 17-14 this season, though with a No. 19 NET ranking entering Thursday that provides hope for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said Thursday she believes Oregon is "deserving of playing in the NCAA Tournament, yes. I think (the Pac-12) should have eight teams in, including Oregon."
"Tara, she's a pretty smart lady," Graves said. "She's won a few games, championships, (is a) Hall of Famer; I hope she's also a seer. But I agree with her. And I think we're the type of team people are not gonna want to play."
How It Happened: The Ducks wanted to keep the rebounding margin as close as possible while using their three-point shooting to their advantage, but the first quarter didn't go according to plan. Stanford opened the game with an 11-2 run, and nine of those were second-chance points. Paopao ended that run with her first three of the game, but that was the only one Oregon hit in the quarter as the Ducks trailed 16-9 after one period.
Rogers ended an 0-of-7 start by scoring at the 6:49 mark of the second, but that only got Oregon within 26-15 after Stanford hit a couple threes early in the quarter. The period at least ended on a high note, as Paopao hit her second three to keep the Ducks within 37-24.
A bucket by Phillipina Kyei and two more Paopao threes kept the margin at 13 early in the third, 45-32, before Rogers got some rhythm going. Trailing 47-32, the Ducks mounted a 13-4 run that included eight points by Rogers.
"You've just gotta stay positive, stay into it, encourage my teammates," Rogers said. "Obviously I kept shooting regardless of a rough first half, because I missed shots that I typically make today. And I actually don't have an answer for that. But you've just gotta keep going."
The 13-4 run was capped by threes from Rogers and Paopao that got Oregon within 51-45. Stanford went scoreless on its next three possessions, but so too did the Ducks, and the Cardinal got going again with a 7-0 run to close out the period and lead 58-45.
Paopao twice hits threes in the fourth that cut the margin to 10, at 60-50 and then 66-56. But the Ducks could get no closer than nine in the final minutes.
Notable: Paopao is 28-of-44 from three-point range over the last five games. … Paopao's previous career high of 24 points was set Jan. 15, 2022 at Arizona, and her previous season high was 23 against Arizona State on Feb. 23. … The Ducks participated in the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament for the seventh straight year. … Prior to tip-off a moment of recognition was held for Emmy Zack, an Oregon alum and former member of the sports information staff who recently passed away unexpectedly. Zack regularly worked on the scorer's table for the Pac-12 Tournament, and a seat at the table was left open in her honor Thursday.
Quotable:
UO coach Kelly Graves on what the Ducks can take from this experience
"Grace (VanSlooten) and Chance (Gray) are not 100 percent; they're not anywhere close right now, but they're still out there competing. Phillipina has shown she continues to get better and better. Obviously Te-Hina and what she gives us has been enormous. We've got a really good, solid core that can come back. And who knows? But, good classes coming in. Our program's not going anywhere, that's for sure."
Junior guard Te-Hina Paopao on lessons from this season for Oregon's freshmen
"Always bring a great attitude, no matter what life brings you. I know they've learned a lot from us upperclassmen (about) just keeping your head up high, and always bringing great attitude to life. Basketball is just part of life. But you have to also be grateful and blessed to have opportunities like that."
Up Next: The NCAA Tournament selection show is March 12 (5 p.m., ESPN).
Junior Te-Hina Paopao set a career high with 28 points, by matching her career high of seven three-pointers. But one night after scoring 10 points in crunch time of a first-round tournament win, senior Endyia Rogers endured a 6-of-26 shooting performance Thursday. Stanford had a 56-39 rebounding advantage, and the Cardinal had 15 offensive rebounds that turned into 13 second-chance points in the first half — those 13 points providing the margin in a 37-24 halftime deficit for the UO women.
"Tonight we just didn't have enough," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "Two areas : We didn't shoot it well — I thought we had some pretty good looks and just didn't shoot it like we normally do — and then the rebounds, the second-chance points. Those were the two areas that really killed us."
The Ducks fell to 17-14 this season, though with a No. 19 NET ranking entering Thursday that provides hope for an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said Thursday she believes Oregon is "deserving of playing in the NCAA Tournament, yes. I think (the Pac-12) should have eight teams in, including Oregon."
"Tara, she's a pretty smart lady," Graves said. "She's won a few games, championships, (is a) Hall of Famer; I hope she's also a seer. But I agree with her. And I think we're the type of team people are not gonna want to play."
How It Happened: The Ducks wanted to keep the rebounding margin as close as possible while using their three-point shooting to their advantage, but the first quarter didn't go according to plan. Stanford opened the game with an 11-2 run, and nine of those were second-chance points. Paopao ended that run with her first three of the game, but that was the only one Oregon hit in the quarter as the Ducks trailed 16-9 after one period.
Rogers ended an 0-of-7 start by scoring at the 6:49 mark of the second, but that only got Oregon within 26-15 after Stanford hit a couple threes early in the quarter. The period at least ended on a high note, as Paopao hit her second three to keep the Ducks within 37-24.
A bucket by Phillipina Kyei and two more Paopao threes kept the margin at 13 early in the third, 45-32, before Rogers got some rhythm going. Trailing 47-32, the Ducks mounted a 13-4 run that included eight points by Rogers.
"You've just gotta stay positive, stay into it, encourage my teammates," Rogers said. "Obviously I kept shooting regardless of a rough first half, because I missed shots that I typically make today. And I actually don't have an answer for that. But you've just gotta keep going."
The 13-4 run was capped by threes from Rogers and Paopao that got Oregon within 51-45. Stanford went scoreless on its next three possessions, but so too did the Ducks, and the Cardinal got going again with a 7-0 run to close out the period and lead 58-45.
Paopao twice hits threes in the fourth that cut the margin to 10, at 60-50 and then 66-56. But the Ducks could get no closer than nine in the final minutes.
Notable: Paopao is 28-of-44 from three-point range over the last five games. … Paopao's previous career high of 24 points was set Jan. 15, 2022 at Arizona, and her previous season high was 23 against Arizona State on Feb. 23. … The Ducks participated in the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament for the seventh straight year. … Prior to tip-off a moment of recognition was held for Emmy Zack, an Oregon alum and former member of the sports information staff who recently passed away unexpectedly. Zack regularly worked on the scorer's table for the Pac-12 Tournament, and a seat at the table was left open in her honor Thursday.
Quotable:
UO coach Kelly Graves on what the Ducks can take from this experience
"Grace (VanSlooten) and Chance (Gray) are not 100 percent; they're not anywhere close right now, but they're still out there competing. Phillipina has shown she continues to get better and better. Obviously Te-Hina and what she gives us has been enormous. We've got a really good, solid core that can come back. And who knows? But, good classes coming in. Our program's not going anywhere, that's for sure."
Junior guard Te-Hina Paopao on lessons from this season for Oregon's freshmen
"Always bring a great attitude, no matter what life brings you. I know they've learned a lot from us upperclassmen (about) just keeping your head up high, and always bringing great attitude to life. Basketball is just part of life. But you have to also be grateful and blessed to have opportunities like that."
Up Next: The NCAA Tournament selection show is March 12 (5 p.m., ESPN).
Team Stats
Oregon
Stan
FG%
.294
.382
3FG%
.370
.316
FT%
.833
.750
RB
39
56
TO
7
10
STL
6
3
Game Leaders
Pts
28
FGM
8
3FGM
7
FTM
5
Pts
15
FGM
6
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
2
FTM
1
Pts
7
FGM
1
3FGM
0
FTM
5
Players Mentioned
C
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballKelly Graves | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
Deja Kelly, Peyton Scott & Phillipina Kyei | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
Peyton Scott & Ari Long: "A good, competitive basketball game."
Thursday, February 27
Kelly Graves: "We've played really well."
Thursday, February 27
