Ducks Prepare for Fourth WNIT Appearance
Note: This is an abbreviated version of Oregon's Weekly Basketball Notes. For the complete release, including stats, box scores, player capsules, etc., please view the PDF.
DUCKS AWAIT GAUCHOS OR TOREROS
The Oregon Ducks avoided the first round of the WNIT and await Thursday’s winner between UC Santa Barbara and the University of San Diego at USD. Oregon opened this season at UCSB and came away with an 85-77 road win thanks to a combined 50 points off the bench from FR G Taylor Lilley (27) and SR F/C Carolyn Ganes (23). Those point totals ended up being season highs for both players. The Ducks have faced USD only once - in 1993 - and came away with a road win. Oregon has won its last six games against schools from the West Coast Conference, including a pair of blowouts this season against Portland and St. Mary’s (CA).
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT PRACTICE
Oregon’s upcoming practice schedule is as follows:
Fri., March 16, 7:30-9:30 a.m.
Practices at McArthur Court are open to the media and interviews may be conducted at the conclusion of each session. Please contact Andy McNamara (541-346-2253) if you plan on attending. All times are subject to change.
DUCKS IN THE WNIT
The Ducks have made three prior trips to the WNIT - formerly known as the National Women’s Invitational Tournament - and have won two championships (1989 and 2002). Their first two appearances came in 1979 and 1989, when it was an eight-team event. In 2002, the WNIT had 32 participants. This year, the tourney expanded to 48 teams.
1979 ? at Amarillo Texas
Quarterfinals
Oregon 85, Minnesota 74
Semifinals
South Carolina 85, Oregon 63
Consolation
Oregon 81, N. Kentucky 72
1989 ? at Amarillo Texas
Quarterfinals
Oregon 82, DePaul 77
Semifinals
Oregon 93, Toledo 63
Championship
Oregon 67, San Diego State 64
2002 ? at McArthur Court, Eugene, Ore.
First Round
Oregon 71, St. Mary’s (CA) 61
Second Round
Oregon 58, Oregon State 48
at Bank of America Arena, Seattle, Wash.
Quarterfinals
Oregon 77, Washington 73
at McArthur Court, Eugene, Ore.
Semifinals
Oregon 65, Michigan State 54
Championship
Oregon 54, Houston 52
QUICK QUACK
Oregon returns six players from last year’s squad, which went 14-15, 5-13 in the Pac-10. Of UO’s nine active players, five are seniors, including F Eleanor Haring, a former Pac-10 All-Freshman team honoree.
CLIPPED WINGS
SR F/C Jessie Shetters (stress fracture), who had been out since Jan. 17, played in three of UO’s last four games. FR G Taylor Lilley will be day-to-day for the remainder of the season with a precursor to a stress fracture in her right leg.
BACK-TO-BACK PAC
Oregon’s win over Washington State on Feb. 22 gave the Ducks back-to-back conference road victories for the first time since 2004, when UO earned consecutive victories over Washington State (Jan. 17) and UCLA (Jan. 29).
NURSE NAMED PAC-10 PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SO G Tamika Nurse was selected as the Pac-10 Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 4 after helping the Ducks defeat UCLA and USC at home. Nurse scored a career-high 22 points against the Bruins and grabbed a career-best six rebounds against the Women of Troy. Over the two games, the Hamilton, Ontario native was 24-of-26 at the foul line. Nurse was UO’s first weekly honoree this season and first since SR F/C Carolyn Ganes took home the hardware Dec. 19, 2005. It was the first weekly award for Oregon to come during Pac-10 play since Brandi Davis won for the week of Feb. 12, 2005.
DUCKS ADD AUSSIE KENYON
G/F Victoria Kenyon, a 17-year-old Australian from Brisbane, Queensland, joined the Ducks prior to the start of winter term and will redshirt the remainder of the 2006-07 season. Kenyon, who comes to Eugene from the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS), will participate in all practices and travel with the team.
GOODBYE GARBY
SR G Nicole Garbin has called it a career and will not continue to play basketball for the Ducks. Garbin, a sixth-year senior, played in three games this season following a standout soccer career at UO.
MAC COURT 300
Oregon’s win over BYU on Dec. 30 was the program’s 300th home victory at McArthur Court. The Ducks have an all-time Mac Court mark of 304-104 (.745).
NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS
The Ducks have had plenty of success outside of the Pac-10 Conference in recent years and this one is no different. Over the past three seasons, UO is a combined 26-8 in non-league games. Oregon is 8-2 in non-conference games this year with its next such contest coming in March at the Pac-10 tournament.
PAP? PLAYER
SR F Eleanor Haring earned the MVP award at the ninth annual Pap? Jam at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Dec. 9. Haring led all scorers with 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting as she paced the Ducks to a 70-60 victory against Big 12 side Colorado.
ALL TOURNEY
SR F/C Carolyn Ganes was the Ducks’ representative on the Oregon Thanksgiving Tournament All-Tournament team after averaging 13.5 points and 4.0 rebounds as the Ducks went 1-1 to take third place. Pittsburgh won the tourney with wins over Utah and Boise State.
2007 RECRUITS
Oregon inked one of its most impressive recruiting classes in recent years, signing four prep players to National Letters of Intent during November’s early period.
6-4 post Nicole Canepa (San Francisco, Calif./St. Ignatius Prep), 5-7 guard Nia Jackson (Seattle, Wash./Chief Sealth), 6-2 post Ellie Manou (New South Wales, Australia/Australian Institute of Sport) and 5-11 wing Tatianna Thomas (Newhall, Calif./Hart) will be incoming freshmen in the fall of 2007.
UO’s class was ranked 31st nationally by recruiting outlet Blue Star Basketball.
