Eugene, OR – The Oregon women faced Washington State this afternoon in Eugene. Both teams were coming off recent losses. The Ducks lost last at Arizona and were losers in three of their last four games, The Cougars were coming off two close losses in Los Angeles against USC and UCLA. In a rough offensive game for both teams, Oregon came back from a five-point first quarter to overtake Washington State in the final quarter in a 58-50 win. Sedona Prince led the Ducks with 14 points and six rebounds while the Cougars’ Charlisse Leger-Walker led all in scoring with 24 points but on an inefficient 8-of-26 shooting, including 5-of-14 on 3s. She added a team high eight rebounds.
Oregon, coming off a 41-point offensive output against Arizona started this game very slowly, only making one of their first eleven shots. The Cougars weren’t much better offensively but took a 12-2 lead towards the end of the first quarter. Taylor Mikesell (11 points) finally hit a three-pointer for Oregon with a minute left. The quarter ended with Washington State with a 14-5 lead. The Ducks shot 2-of-13 with five turnovers. The Cougars didn’t turn the ball over but shot only 4-of-14 (28.6 percent).
Washington State helped get Oregon back into the game by missing their first seven shots in the second quarter. Two baskets from the Ducks’ Prince cut the Cougars lead to three points. That was as close as Oregon would get as the half ended with Washington State in front 24-21. It was an offensively challenged half with the Cougars shooting 25.8 percent from the field including 2-of-13 on 3s. Oregon was slightly better at 33.3% but made only 1-of-9 3s. The Ducks committed eight turnovers to four for the Cougars.
Oregon came out more effectively on offense in the third quarter helped by solid play from Prince (eight third quarter points), who was getting her most extensive play since returning from an ankle injury recently. She played 27 minutes in the game. They had a chance to tie the game at 33 but had a shot blocked and then Charlisse Leger-Walker connected on a three-pointer. They did come back and tie the game at 38-38 in the final seconds on a three-pointer from freshman Sydney Parrish.
Early in the fourth quarter Oregon’s Nyara Sabally, who missed the last two seasons with knee injuries, had to be helped off the court after a scrum under the Cougars basket. It looked like it may be serious but Sabally (5 points, 8 rebounds) returned to action later in the quarter. Oregon gradually took control as the Cougars continued to miss from all over. They shot 3-of-19 in the stanza. Oregon took the lead at 46-44 on a Te-Hina Paopao (8 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists) layup with 3:50 left. They ran off six straight points late, helped by a Jaz Shelley basket to take a 54-46 lead. Charlisse Leger-Walker then was fouled while making a three-pointer, She completed the four-point play to make the score 54-50. Oregon closed out the game at the foul line.
Washington State shot only 26 percent for the game including 7-of-31 (23 percent) from long distance. Oregon wasn’t much better, connecting on 39 percent overall and only 2-of-14 (14 percent) from deep. The bigger Ducks won the boards 49-35 but committed five more turnovers (13-8) than the Cougars.
Oregon (10-3, 8-3) will face Washington at home on Sunday while Washington State (7-4, 5-4) will travel to Corvallis to face Oregon State.
This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner of NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.
We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.
