University of Oregon
Colorado State
Ducks Still Undefeated After 66-57 Win at Colorado State
12/12/04 | Women's Basketball
FORT COLLINS, Colo. ? Another game, another win for the University of Oregon women's basketball team. Behind senior Cathrine Kraayeveld's season-high 24 points and a resilient defense, the Ducks upended Colorado State 66-57 Sunday before 1,480 fans at Moby Arena.
Oregon improved to 7-0 on the season ? its best start since going 7-0 to begin the 1996-97 campaign ? and handed the Rams (5-3) their first home loss in six games.
"It feels good to come out with a win and say we're 7-0," said Kraayeveld, who made 11-of-16 from the field. "It shows how hard we worked in the off season and how good we really can be."
The win was far from easy for the Ducks, who only trailed in the first two minutes of the game. Colorado State was within six points of Oregon for most of the second half, but the Ducks went on an 8-2 run in the final two minutes ? with Oregon's post players scoring all eight ? to seal the win.
"We've talked a lot about the last three or four minutes of a game," Kraayeveld said. "It's about keeping our intensity and playing defense. Instead of trying to hold on to the lead, we just try to make the margin bigger."
"Cat did a really great job," fourth-year Oregon coach Bev Smith said. "One of the things she did tonight was move well without the ball. She got into the flow of the offense. Her defense, her rebounding and shot-blocking over the course of the game intimidates some teams."
Kraayeveld, whose team held the Rams to their worst shooting percentage this year (33.9), finished with four blocked shots and six rebounds.
Oregon outrebounded a Colorado State team that had a plus-12 rebounding average coming into the game, 45-36, led by freshman Gabrielle Richards' career-high 11 boards. Richards came up with three crucial offensive rebounds in the final minutes to help Oregon's offense remain alive.
"Gabe is a tremendously intelligent player," Smith said. "She struggled offensively (1-of-10 shooting) but never hung her head. If it hadn't been for her, with those three offensive boards, we may have not been in the game. To come into their arena, into their place and to outrebound them ... it just speaks to our effort."
Senior center Andrea Bills proved to be too much to handle for the Rams, making 7-of-10 from the floor en route to 15 points along with seven rebounds.
"I posted a little harder tonight," said Bills, who picked up her fourth foul with 5:36 left. "Corrie (Mizusawa) and the guards were looking for us and found us in the right position."
Mizusawa had her second double-digit assist game this year, passing out 10 along with collecting two steals.
"Mentally, we weren't aggressive enough (in previous games)," Smith said. "If you come out and throw the first punch then it gives you the chance to own the court, whether it's at home or on the road. We didn't score a knockout punch, but we set the tone for the game."
Oregon returns home to play host Saturday to the inaugural Nike Classic at McArthur Court. Oklahoma and Louisiana Tech square off at 4 p.m. which will be followed by the Ducks and No. 10-ranked Ohio State at 6:30 p.m. Both games will be televised live on Fox Sports Net.
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