No. 16 Stanford Passes Ducks Down the Stretch

Saturday, January 7

Eugene, Ore.

7 p.m.

University of Oregon

Stanford

Photo by: GoDucks.com

01/08/06 | Women's Basketball

By: GoDucks.com

EUGENE, Ore. -- If Stanford is the cream of the crop in the Pac-10 ? and most coaches and media types believe they are ? then University of Oregon fans need not be alarmed at the Ducks' 1-3 record in Pac-10 play.

Sophomore sensation Candice Wiggins put the Cardinal (10-4, 5-1 Pac-10) on her back, cranking out a career-high 37 points in leading her team to a 76-64 win in front of 5,062 at McArthur Court.

"Candice Wiggins took over that game," Oregon senior guard Chelsea Wagner said. "She's not an All-American for no reason."

The margin of victory wasn't indicative of how close the game was for more than 35 minutes. The two teams traded scoring runs throughout with the Ducks (10-4, 1-3) ending a spirited battle on the short end.

"This is one of the biggest wins in our conference, because coming here to Mac Court with the crowd and the intensity is tough," Wiggins said.

Wagner and junior center Carolyn Ganes had 15 points apiece for the Ducks, who held a 60-59 lead with less than five minutes to play. Oregon committed just 14 turnovers in the game, but three came in the final four minutes when Stanford went to the press.

"When you play a team like Stanford, you can't make those litle mental errors," Wagner said. "And I think that is what held us back tonight."

The Cardinal shot 51.0 percent for the game, including 66.7 percent (8-of-12) from three-point range. The Ducks made just 1-of-10 three-balls in the second half and shot 36.5 percent for the game.

Stanford center Brooke Smith added 15 points, but was held without a field goal in the second half.

Oregon scored the first five points after halftime for a 42-35 lead, but a quick-strike three by Krisa Rappahahn followed by three straight field goals from Wiggins gave Stanford a 9-0 run and 44-42 advantage with 16:29 to play in the contest.

Junior guard Cicely Oaks stopped the bleeding with two free throws to square the score, and after the Cardinal countered with a Cissy Pierce lay-in, UO reeled off four straight points to reclaim the lead.

UO stormed ahead by six at 56-50 with 9:51 left, but the Cardinal turned up the defensive pressure and ran off yet another run (7-0) to take a one-point lead.

The Ducks jumped back on top and led 60-57 at the 6:22 mark, but Stanford ripped off 10 unanswered for a 67-60 lead with 3:46 left and ultimately put the game out of reach.

Stanford led by as much as 10 points in the first half, but it was the Ducks who led after the first 20 minutes, 37-35.

Not surprising, the match-up against the 16th-ranked Cardinal produced the largest Mac Court crowd of the season and Oregon fed off that energy at the start of the game.

Oregon scored on back-to-back possessions after controlling the tip-off and led 5-3 before Stanford caught fire with a 12-0 run to claim a 15-5 edge at the 15:00 mark.

Wagner responded by scoring the game's next eight points to pull the Ducks within a basket before a pair of Cardinal free throws ended the UO run.

Stanford continued to lead until Ganes' three-point play tied the score at 19-all with 10:38 left in the half.

"All I can do is play hard for however long I get to play, whether it's three minutes or 30 minutes," Ganes said, referring to her somewhat sporadic playing time this season.

Added Oregon coach Bev Smith: "Carolyn did everything we asked of her tonight both offensviely and defensively."

Ganes put UO on top, 24-21, with her second three-pointer of the half with 8:34 to play. Inside buckets by senior guard Kedzie Gunderson and sophomore center Gabrielle Richards completed Oregon's 23-8 spurt to give the Ducks a 28-23 lead.

The Cardinal tied the score with five straight points, but Gunderson hit a pair of free throws to nudge Oregon in front 30-28.

The Ducks built their largest first-half lead at 37-30 with 2:15 left, but Wiggins hit a three-pointer and two free throws, pulling Stanford back within two heading into the break.

QUACK TRACKS: UO had won the last two meetings against the Cardinal at McArthur Court ... UCLA's Maylana Martin holds the Mac Court and opponent scoring record with 39 points on Feb. 24, 2000 ... SR G Kedzie Gunderson had a career-high six assists.