University of Oregon
Arizona
Ducks Go Outside, Down Wildcats 78-58
02/10/06 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. ? The Arizona Wildcats never had a chance.
With just seven players in uniform and facing an Oregon team anxious to make up for its recent road struggles with a game at cozy McArthur Court, the Wildcats were the unlucky guests for the Ducks' record-setting performance in a 78-58 win.
Oregon cranked out a school record 15 three-pointers, including eight from the hot right hand of senior Chelsea Wagner, who equaled the Ducks' single-game mark for an individual.
“My shot was dropping tonight and my teammates were getting me the ball,” Wagner said after scoring a game-high 24 points. “I usually don't get that many open looks, so it was fun.”
Fun indeed for the 3,213 in attendance who watched Oregon (14-9, 5-8 Pac-10) shoot 56 percent from beyond the arc and improve to 5-1 at home during conference play this season.
“We spent a lot of time these last two practices on outside shooting because we thought that they were going to try and clog the middle,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said.
The injury-plagued Wildcats (7-17, 3-11) did a decent job at that, limiting UO's starting post players to 5-of-14 shooting, but they had no answer for Oregon's perimeter prowess.
“Not having players really changed our game plan,” said Arizona head coach Joan Bonvincini. “We wanted to be able to get out and press their shooters, but we just didn't have the depth and Oregon played really well.”
Sophomore guard Kaela Chapdelaine and senior forward Kedzie Gunderson had 10 points and two three-balls apiece for the Ducks. Senior guard Brandi Davis had a pair of treys en route to eight points, and freshman guard Tamika Nurse converted one three-pointer and finished with eight points.
“This was a real important win for us,” Smith said. “Despite the absences, Arizona is a tough matchup because they're small and can put the ball on the floor.”
The Ducks held a massive advantage on the boards, outrebounding the Wildcats, 49-31. Oregon sophomore center Gabrielle Richards led all players with 14 rebounds.
Junior guard Joy Hollingsworth posted a double-double for Arizona on 14 points and 12 rebounds. Senior guard Natalie Jones had 17 points and sophomore guard Ashley Whisonant added 16 in a losing cause.
Next up for the Ducks is No. 16 Arizona State (19-5, 10-4) on Sunday at Mac Court. Tip-off is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and the game will be televised live on FSN.
QUACK TRACKS: SR G Chelsea Wagner climbed from tenth to seventh place on the single-season three-point field goals list and now has 51 ... Her eight 3's tied Jessica Schutt (11/26/93 at Hawaii) for the single-game mark and set a new Mac Court record ... Wagner played without the knee brace she has worn all season ... UO's 15 three-point FG broke the old record of 13 set at TCU on Dec. 22, 2002.
