UO Women Run Wild In Exhibition Win

Thursday, October 30

Eugene, OR

6 p.m.

University of Oregon

0-0,0-0Big Ten

113

Western Oregon

0-0,0-0Great Northwest

Western Ore.

Oregon

113

Photo by: GoDucks.com

10/30/25 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 113, Western Oregon 36 Photo Gallery

The Ducks showed off their return to an up-tempo style during their victory Thursday at Matthew Knight Arena.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon women's basketball fans got their first look Thursday at a UO team committed to playing a more up-tempo, high-scoring style, and those in attendance at Matthew Knight Arena had to like what they saw.

Sarah Rambus scored 28 points to lead five players in double figures as the Ducks won an exhibition game over Western Oregon, 113-36. The UO women scored the first 15 points of the night, then blew the game open by scoring 25 straight in the third quarter to set the stage for their counting opener against West Georgia on Monday.

"It felt awesome getting back into Matthew Knight Arena," said Rambus, a starter Thursday after two seasons backing up departed senior Phillipina Kyei in the frontcourt. "And that fast pace, we showed it — it showed in the score and us running on our opponent. Love to see it."

Avary Cain hit five three-pointers to finish with 15 points, Katie Fiso and Ehis Etute scored 12 each and Astera Tuhina added 11 as the UO women saw 11 players score. Fiso also dished out nine of the Ducks' 30 assists on 40 made field goals, while Etute had nine rebounds and Rambus grabbed eight.

The Ducks combined to shoot 51 percent and were 14-of-31 from three-point range, showing some cohesion as head coach Kelly Graves spent the game letting different groups of players build chemistry for several minutes before making mass substitutions.

Katie Fiso

"I'm just really proud of the team," Graves said. "You know, sometimes these kind of games aren't easy to play in, and you tend to get a little selfish. And I thought for the most part we shared the ball well, made the right plays. Sometimes you want to just get yours, and we didn't tonight."

How It Happened: The Ducks opened the game with a 15-0 run, including 12 straight by the starters with eight from Rambus. When it was 12-0, Graves made his first wholesale substitution, a fresh lineup of five that included Cain — who immediately made a three-pointer. She'd make two more in the period, which ended with the UO women ahead, 27-12.

"I think any basketball player is looking for their wide-open shot," said Cain, a transfer from UCLA. "But I tried not to force it this time, to just let the ball kind of come to me."

Rambus scored another six in a row to open the second quarter. Senior transfer Mia Jacobs hit a three-pointer as Oregon pushed the lead past 30 for the first time, 47-16, and Cain closed the half by making another three-pointer for a 54-18 lead.

The second half opened with Western Oregon scoring the first five. But the UO women then shut them out for the next 7:35 of game clock, going on a 25-0 run in that time that included two three-pointers by Sofia Bell and one by freshman Sara Barhoum. The Ducks held Western Oregon to 2-of-11 shooting in the period, and 13-of-56 (23.2 percent) for the game.

"We take pride in our defense," Fiso said. "Coach Jerise (Freeman) does a great job instilling that in us."

Graves hoped to see the Ducks shoot a little better from three-point range earlier in the game, but the Ducks finished with a 6-of-9 flourish in the fourth quarter. That included a trio of three-pointers by Tuhina, and one each for Cain, Barhoum and freshman Janiyah Williams.

Up Next: The Ducks open the regular season against Western Oregon on Monday (6 p.m., B1G+).