Ducks Host USC To Start Homestand
THIS WEEK
The Oregon women’s basketball team has the luxury of playing their final three games of the regular season at Mac Court.
This week, the Ducks host the L.A. schools, playing USC (16-9, 9-5) at 7 p.m. on Thursday and UCLA (13-12, 8-6) at 2 p.m. on Saturday. The Ducks final home game against Oregon State is set for 4 p.m., Saturday, March 1, and will be broadcast by the Oregon Sports Network.
TELEVISION
Oregon’s 2 p.m. game with UCLA this Saturday will be aired on Comcast SportsNet. The game is the eighth television game of the season for Oregon. The Ducks are scheduled to have nine games on the air this year, with the final hosting Oregon State at 4 p.m. on Saturday, March 1.
MEDIA
Fans in Oregon can listen to Terry Jonz call both games this week on KSCR 1320. His broadcasts will also be available on the O-Zone for Duck fans out of the listening area. Live stats will also be available at www.GoDucks.com.
TIP-OFF TUESDAY
The Cooler’s Oregon Tip-Off Tuesday coaches’ radio show is broadcast live from The Cooler Restaurant and Bar from 7-8 p.m., every Tuesday night.
The show features Jerry Allen with men’s basketball head coach Ernie Kent, and the voice of Oregon women’s basketball, Terry Jonz, with head coach Bev Smith. Fans are invited to catch the live action in-person, but can also listen on KUGN 590 in Eugene as well as the O-Zone at www.GoDucks.com.
INSIDE SCOOP
Don’t forget to catch head coach Bev Smith in her weekly coach’s show, aired on KEZI at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, and replayed on Comcast SportsNet (channel 37). Check listings at www.northwest.comcastsportsnet.com for each week’s replay times. O-Zone subscribers can also watch on www.GoDucks.com.
THE CLOSE ONES
This season Oregon (11-15, 5-10) has played nine games that have been decided by five points or less. In those nine games - eight of which were conference contests - the Ducks won just three.
The Ducks won their Pac-10 opener at Oregon State, 76-72, on Dec. 29, held off Washington, 66-64, on Jan. 19 at Mac Court, and most recently defeated Washington State, 70-67, in Pullman.
Excluding their four Pac-10 losses to top-10 conference opponents Stanford and Cal, the Ducks’ six other Pac-10 losses have come by a total of 28 points or 4.6 points per game.
SNAPPING THE STREAK
Oregon snapped it seven-game losing streak with a 70-67 victory at Washington State last Sunday. The win also marked Oregon’s second win on the road this year.
The Ducks were led by Taylor Lilley’s game-high 20 points, while Micaela Cocks added 12 and Tamika Nurse scored 11.
Oregon trailed by as many as seven in the first half, but regrouped and went into the locker room with a 40-33 lead. Oregon’s lead reached double digits, but the Ducks could not shake Washington State, who closed the score to 68-67 on a Jasmine Williams’ jumper. With 20 seconds left on the clock, Nurse calmly sank two free throws to extend Oregon’s margin to three.
The Cougars took one last attempt to send the game into overtime, but Katie Appleton’s three-point shot missed off the back iron.
THREE-POINT MASTERS
Oregon’s three-point shooting was significant in the team’s victory at Washington State last Sunday. The Ducks shot 42.4 percent from the floor overall, but behind the three-point line produced a season-best 12-for-22 (.545) performance.
Oregon set a new season high with 12 made three-pointers; the most the Ducks had scored earlier this season was 10 at UCLA (Jan. 24) and vs. Tulsa (Dec. 19).
Handling the majority of that three-point shooting was sophomore guard Micaela Cocks. The native of New Zealand came off the bench and shot 4-of-5 from three-point range, setting a new career high with four long distance baskets made in a single game.
Ellyce Ironmonger contributed with her fourth three-pointer of the season, while Taylor Lilley hit four treys and Kaela Chapdelaine finished with three.
ROAD WOES
Oregon’s 61-60 loss at Washington marked its 10th road loss of the season, the most road losses any Duck team has suffered.
Oregon had a 34-33 lead over the Huskies at halftime, but Washington’s bench outscore the Ducks’ 22-11, including a game-high 14 points from Laura McLellan. Oregon’s biggest fault was 13 second-half turnovers.
THE 100 CLUB
A couple of centennial milestones will be up for grabs this weekend at Mac Court. Oregon’s Taylor Lilley currently has scored 99 three-pointers during her two-year career at Oregon. The Newhall, Calif., native already sits seventh in Oregon all-time history with her mark off 99. Lilley’s current career three-point shooting percentage rests at .402 (99-246), which ranks fourth all-time.
The other Duck with triple digits in her sight is senior Kaela Chapdelaine. Recruited to Oregon as a point guard, the fifth-year senior has played every position from 1-4 during her career. Chapdelaine is currently leading Oregon with 99 assists. Her 334 career assists rank eighth all-time in Oregon history. Lauri Landerholm (1982-87) holds the record with 607.
ANOTHER MARK BY CHAP
Chapdelaine’s assist total is not the only mark that will put her in the record books. The Okotoks, Alberta, native has played 117 career games, tying Alison Lang (1980-84) for eighth in program history. Jenny Mowe (1996-01) holds the record with 124 career games.
CANEPA ON THE BLOCK
Since her insertion back into the starting lineup on Feb. 2 at Arizona State, freshman Nicole Canepa has led Oregon averaging 10.0 points per game. During the last five games, Canepa has reached double figures three times, and led the Ducks in scoring twice.
She has shot 45.7 percent (21-46) from the floor during her latest starting stint, including three games in which she shot .500 or better.
On the year, the San Francisco native is averaging 6.8 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, while shooting .428 from the field. She is also second on the team making a total of 61 trips to the free-throw line.
LILLEY LIGHTS IT UP
For the sixth time this season, Oregon sophomore guard Taylor Lilley reached the 20-point threshold, scoring a game-high 20 points at Washington State last Sunday.
Lilley, who has led the team in scoring 12 times this season, continues to lead the Ducks averaging 12.3 points per game. She is shooting 42.1 percent (118-280) from the floor, and has taken nearly 100 more shots than any other player on the team - with the closest being freshman Ellyce Ironmonger (183). In addition, Lilley is averaging 2.4 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. She also leads the squad with 42 steals.
Last week, Lilley snapped what was a three-game skid in which she was held to 15 points total. The 2006 Hart HS graduate warmed up with 11 points at Washington before dropping 20 at Washington State.
ON POINT
Junior point guard Tamika Nurse has been producing all-around games since her 15-point outburst at Arizona State on Feb. 2. The Hamilton, Onatrio native reentered the starting lineup vs. Stanford (Feb. 7), and on the road last week in Washington showed leadership and composure.
At Washington, Nurse scored nine points to go along with five points and five assists. With 42 seconds on the clock, Nurse hit a runner lane to bring the Ducks within one 60-61.
At Washington State, Nurse calmly sank two free throws to extend Oregon’s lead to three points with 20 seconds remaining. Against the Huskies, Nurse scored 11, was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line and added four rebounds as well as four assists.
INJURY BUG
The injury bug has crossed the path of a fair share of Oregon players this season. While a total of four players have missed a total of 12 games due to injuries, several additional Oregon players have battled chronic injuries.
Freshman Ellie Manou continues to struggle with a soft tissue injury in her left foot that limits her full-court practice time and conditioning. Taylor Lilley has not missed a game, but continues to fight pain in her shins. Freshman Tatianna Thomas has dealt with Achilles and wrist problems as well. Freshman Nia Jackson, who played with a knee bruise earlier in the year, missed four games (UCLA, USC, Arizona, Arizona State) with a right quad strain. On Feb. 4, Jackson sprained her left ACL. She has been unable to play vs. Stanford, Cal, Washington and Washington State. Jackson will also be unavailable this week as well.
USC SERIES HISTORY
In Pac-10 action, USC holds a 27-16 series lead over Oregon...when the teams met earlier this season at the Galen Center, the Trojans’ Kari LaPlante scored 10 second-half points, to lead USC to a 46-42 victory...last season, Oregon knocked off USC, 73-63, at Mac Court...the last time the Trojans swept the Ducks was the 2005-06 season...USC enters this Thursday on a three-game winning streak after a 49-36 victory at UCLA.
USC Probable Starters
01 ? Camille LeNoir ? G ? 5-6 ? RS-Jr. ? Los Angeles, Calif./Narbonne HS
? Averaging 10.4 points and 4.0 assists per game...ranks second in the Pac-10 with a 1.67 assist/turnover ratio.
04 ? Simone Jelks ? F ? 5-11 ? Sr. ? South Euckid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush HS
? Averaging 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game...scored five points and added five rebounds last week at UCLA.
10 ? Heather Oliver ? G ? 5-10 ? So. ? Victoria, Australia/Wangaratta HS
? Ranks ninth in the Pac-10 shooting .483 from the floor...also averaging 8.5 points per game (third on the team).
22 ? Allison Jaskowiak ? G/F ? 5-11 ? Sr. ? Chesterfield, Mo./Parkway West HS
? Averaging 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game...last week took only one shot at UCLA...also did not get to a board.
44 ? Nadia Parker ? C ? 6-3 ? Jr. ? Spanaway, Wash./Bethel HS
Leading the team averaging 12.0 points and 6.7 rebounds per game (6th in Pac-10)...second in the conference shooting .562.
UCLA SERIES HISTORY
In Pac-10 action, UCLA holds a 23-21 series advantage over Oregon...earlier this season at Pauley Pavilion, UCLA overcame a second-half double-digit deficit en route to a 63-59 victory...the Ducks’ Tamika Nurse played just one minute in that game before leaving the action with a shoulder sprain...last year at Mac Court, Oregon was victorious by the score of 76-60...the Bruins last swept the series with the Ducks during the 2005-06 season.
UCLA Probable Starters
01 ? Nina Earl ? F ? 6-1 ? Fr. ? Pomona, Calif./Diamond Ranch HS
? Second on the team averaging 9.2 points per game...shooting .431 from the floor...has 72 turnovers and 31 assists.
14 ? Lindsey Pluimer ? F ? 6-4 ? Sr. ? San Clemente, Calif./San Clemente HS
? Leads UCLA in scoring (14.4 ppg) and rebounding (6.6 rpg)...her 39.0 percent three-point shooting ranks third in the Pac-10.
21 ? Doreena Campbell ? G ? 5-10 ? Fr. ? Alexandria, Va./Edison HS
? Leads the Pac-10 with a 1.69 assist/turnover ratio...averaging 8.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.
23 ? Chinyere Ibekwe ? C ? 6-4 ? Jr. ? Los Angeles, Calif./Carson HS
? Received her first start of the season against USC last week...held scoreless, and grabbed 5 rebounds in 12 minutes.
31 ? Moniquee Alexander ? C ? 6-6 ? So. ? Harbor City, Calif./Edison Academic Center
? Averaging 4.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game...against USC last week scored two points in 15 minutes of action.
