Upset Bid Comes Up Short For Ducks

Friday, January 26

Eugene, OR

7:00 PM

University of Oregon

11-10,2-6Pac-12

Utah

15-5,5-3Pac-12

Utah

Oregon

Photo by: Eric Evans/GoDucks.com

01/26/24 | Women's Basketball

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Oregon had an eight-point halftime lead over No. 16 Utah on Friday, but the Utes came away with a 58-48 win.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon executed the script for an upset of No. 16 Utah nearly to perfection in the first half Friday, but the Utes turned the tables after halftime and posted a 58-48 victory before 6,965 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.

The Ducks (11-10, 2-6 Pac-12) led 29-21 at halftime by limiting the Utes to 25 percent shooting, with no second-chance points and just five points off UO turnovers — two areas that hurt Oregon at Cal on Sunday. But Utah shot 45.2 percent in the second half, outscoring the Ducks 37-19 with the help of 11 second-chance points.

Phillipina Kyei had 19 points with 16 rebounds to lead the UO women, and Chance Gray added 18 points. The Ducks played without forward Grace VanSlooten due to injury, and lost starting guard Sofia Bell to injury early in the third quarter.

"We were on point defensively," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "… Without Sofia, without Grace, we just didn't have a lot of options to score ourselves. And we didn't score enough. But a lot of things we did tonight, I'm really proud of."

How It Happened: Oregon's defensive intensity was apparent from the start. The Ducks opened the game with an 8-0 run, and Utah didn't score until 4:09 into the opening quarter. The Utes got within 10-7 on their first three-pointer of the night — they lead the country with 11.7 per game — but Gray answered it at the other end to close the first quarter with Oregon up 13-7.

The Oregon Ducks take on the Utah Utes at Matthew Knight Arena, in Eugene, Oregon on January 26, 2024 (Eric Evans Photography)

"We executed good on both sides," Kyei said of the first half. "Our defense was good and we were getting whatever we wanted on offense too."

That three-pointer ended up sparking an 11-0 run, as the Ducks again scored the first eight points of the second quarter. Utah didn't score until 4:17 into that period; the icebreaker was the first of three three-pointers in four possessions, which got the Utes within 23-16. But Kyei scored Oregon's final six points of the period and the Ducks were up at halftime, 29-21.

"She is showing game in and game out now that she's one of the best centers in the country," Graves said. "I'm just really proud of her growth, on the court (and) off the court."

Utah finally scored first in the third quarter, a three-pointer for the Utes' first second-chance points of the night. With Oregon up 33-29, Utah finally took the lead with a 12-0 run, helped in part by four UO turnovers. The Ducks trailed 43-36 after being outscored 22-7 in the period.

With the Utes up 49-40, the Ducks mounted an 8-2 run sparked by a Priscilla Williams three-pointer, and capped by another three from Gray. But that basket with 3:38 to play, which got the Ducks within 51-48, ended up being the final points of the night for Oregon, which hosts another ranked opponent Sunday.

"We just held one of the best offensive teams in the country to 58 points," Gray said. "We've just got to keep that momentum, and keep our poise."

Up Next: The Ducks host No. 3 Colorado on Sunday (noon, Pac-12 Network).