Frantic Finish Gives Ducks Win at No. 21 USC

Tuesday, January 6

Los Angeles, CA

7 p.m.

University of Oregon

14-3,2-2Big Ten

USC

10-5,2-2Big Ten

Oregon

Southern California

Photo by: GoDucks.com

01/06/26 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 71, No. 21 USC 66 Photo Gallery

Oregon scored the final 14 points of the game to cap a dominant fourth quarter in a 71-66 road victory Tuesday.

By: Rob Moseley

LOS ANGELES — Spurred on by the greatest player in program history, Oregon mounted one of its greatest comebacks in recent memory.

After trailing by 17 at one point, the UO women's basketball team rallied back and upset No. 21 USC at the Galen Center on Tuesday, 71-66. The Ducks (14-3, 2-2 Big Ten) finished the game on a 14-0 run, taking the lead at 69-66 on the last of three straight three-pointers by junior guard Ari Long.

Former star Sabrina Ionescu was sitting courtside with her husband, UO athletics Hall of Famer Hroniss Grasu. Ionescu addressed the Ducks at halftime when they were down 37-21, head coach Kelly Graves said.

"We were a little intimidated; she talked about that, talked about just playing stronger," Graves said. "… The message was right on point. And they listened. Maybe I gotta hire her."

Ehis Etute had a career-high 17 points with 13 rebounds to lead the Ducks, who outscored the Trojans by 21 points during her 29 minutes of action. Katie Fiso added 14 points with eight rebounds and six assists, while Mia Jacobs and Ari Long each hit a trio of three-pointers and scored 11 points.

Long had two points through the first 37 minutes of action, but hit consecutive three-pointers with less than three minutes to play that tied it at 66-66, then the go-ahead three with 31 seconds left.

"There's too many heroes to point out," Graves said. "I thought Katie was more like herself in that second half (after scoring two points in the first). But she didn't get down on herself at halftime; she came back out with a new commitment to just do better. And how about the threes from Ari Long? Holy criminy. And then Ehis was spectacular tonight."

The Ducks outscored USC in the fourth quarter, 26-8. The Trojans missed their first eight shots of the period, which Oregon opened on a 12-0 run, and USC missed its last seven attempts of the game as the Ducks closed with another run, of 14-0.

USC star Jazzy Davidson had 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting in the first half, but she was just 1-of-9 in the second as Oregon's Sofia Bell took the lead on her defensively.

"We scored 50 points in that second half, but I think it was our defense that won the game," Graves said. "Late in the game we got stops, and then, most importantly, we got rebounds. … It was just a great win."

How It Happened: After leading for much of the first quarter, the Ducks allowed a 16-0 run to end that period and then fell behind by as much as 17 late in the second quarter. They rallied within as little as eight late in the third, but ultimately entered the final period down 58-45.

Fiso was the spark plug during the 12-0 run to open the fourth, hitting three buckets during that stretch. Etute and Sarah Rambus both scored in the post, and Etute capped the run with two free throws to make it 58-57 with 6:16 left.

A quick 8-0 run over the next 90 seconds got USC back out in front 66-57. But those would end up being the only points of the final quarter for the Women of Troy.

Etute hit another layin with 4:31 to go, kicking off Oregon's frantic finish. After her free throw made it 66-60 with 3:37 to go, Long hit consecutive three-pointers and suddenly the score was tied, 66-66.

The teams then traded misses, with Jacobs blocking a shot for the Ducks. Then, each team had a turnover. Jacobs had a chance for a go-ahead three with 37 seconds and missed, but Etute secured the rebound and Oregon called timeout. Coming out of the huddle, Long ran to a corner mere feet from where Ionescu and Grasu were sitting, and made the three that gave the Ducks their first lead since it was 9-7.

"Normally, she would curl that, but we told her, run straight to the three and she did it," Graves said. "And you know what, that's not an easy shot."

At the other end, USC missed and the rebound was secured by none other than Long. Fiso then made two free throws with 17 seconds left, and the Ducks had secured the come-from-behind victory.

"We seem to just play better when we're behind, and we play with a little desperation," Graves said. "But man, I could not be more proud of our team."

Oregon's early 9-7 lead was forged by buckets from Etute, Fiso and Jacobs, and then a three-pointer from Jacobs with 3:26 left in the period. But USC scored 16 straight to lead 23-9 entering the second.

Baskets from Etute and Long followed by a three-pointer from Astera Tuhina gave Oregon a 7-2 run to open the second, cutting the deficit to single digits at 25-16. The Trojans answered with a 10-2 run for their biggest lead of the night, 35-18, and had a 37-21 advantage when Ionescu raised her voice in Oregon's halftime locker room huddle.

The UO deficit was 15 early in the third at 43-28 when the Ducks mounted a 9-3 run to get back within single digits at 46-37. Etute had four points and Avary Cain scored three during that spurt, and moments later Bell hit a three to get the deficit back to nine at 51-42.

After two USC free throws, Jacobs made another three and the deficit was eight, 53-45, before the Trojans rallied back into a 13-point lead entering what would end up being an unforgettable fourth quarter for the Ducks.

Up Next: The Ducks host Michigan State on Sunday (2 p.m., B1G+).