University of Oregon
Washington State
Ducks Prevail Down The Stretch
01/04/10 | Women's Basketball
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EUGENE, Ore. – Micaela Cocks and Nia Jackson took over down the stretch, and a timely three-pointer from Taylor Lilley helped the Ducks escape Mac Court with a 98-92 victory over Washington State on Sunday afternoon.
The Ducks are now 11-3 and off to their best start since 2000-01. Oregon's 2-0 start in the best Pac-10 Conference is its best since the 2004-05 season.
Washington State falls 5-8 on the year and 0-2 in league play.
Oregon was led by Cocks' 22 points, but it was her heroics in the final minutes that led UO to victory.
The Ducks led 73-64 with 10:32 to go after a tough inside bucket from Amanda Johnson, and field goals from Jackson and Cocks, but the UO was unable to put away from the Cougars.
WSU scored on five consecutive possessions with 10 points from the Cougars' 12-2 run coming from sophomore guard April Cook.
The Cougars' took a 76-75 lead with 7:51 remaining and extended that lead to 80-75 before Oregon made its final run.
After two buckets from Jackson put the Ducks within one, Cocks drained a three-pointer with 5:14 remaining to give the UO the lead for good at 82-80.
Cocks and Jackson both scored down the stretch, but Washington State would not go away as Cook and Jazmine Perkins each drained treys. But WSU made the fatal the mistake of leaving Lilley open on the wing, and the senior dropped her second three-pointer of the game to give the Ducks a 91-86 lead with 2:08 remaining.
Washington State began fouling to stay in the game, but the Ducks were 7-of-8 from the line in the final moments to maintain a healthy lead.
Oregon had six players finish in double figures led by Cocks' 22 points. Jackson added a career-high 20 points and put up stats across the board posting game highs in assists (7) and steals (5).
Johnson finished the game with her sixth double-double of the season scoring 12 points and adding a game-high 15 rebounds. Lilley added 16 points and four assists, while juniors Victoria Kenyon and Nicole Canepa scored 11 points apiece.
Washington State was led by its guard trio of KiKi Moore, Cook and Perkins. Moore, a true freshman, scored 24 points and added five assists. Cook chipped in 24 as well, shooting 10-of-18 from the floor and knocking down four three-pointers. Perkins added 15 points, six assists and five rebounds.
Oregon had a slim 51-46 lead at the half, as the Cougars ended the final three minutes of the half on a 12-2 run.
There were eight lead changes in the first 10 minutes of the first half until Oregon broke the game open with a 10-0 run, taking a 28-19 lead with 9:35 to go after back-to-back three-pointers from Lilley and Kenyon.
Oregon's 10-0 run was part of a 24-4 stint that the Ducks pieced together over a span of 4:40, culminating with a 17-point, 39-25 advantage with 6:09 left until the break.
The Cougars slowly chipped away at Oregon's double-digit lead, scoring on their five final possessions of the half with two inside buckets coming from Carly Noyes and two three-pointers knocked down by Moore.
Moore was 5-for-7 from the floor and 6-for-6 from the stripe to lead all scorers with 18 points in the first half, while Lilley led the Ducks with 11.
NOTES
Oregon's crowd of 2,255 was its second biggest of the season.
UP NEXT
Oregon will make the short trip north to Corvallis for the first leg of the Civil War on Saturday, Jan. 9. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised from Gill Coliseum on Fox Sports Net. Oregon will play three consecutive road games, heading to play at Arizona State on Thursday, Jan. 14, and at Arizona on Saturday, Jan. 16. The Ducks return to Mac Court to host California at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21.
TICKETS
Tickets are still available for Oregon's next homestand with California (Jan. 21) and Stanford (Jan. 23) in town. Tickets can be purchased by clicking HERE, calling 1-800-WEB-FOOT, or in person at the Casanova Center ticket office. Tickets can also be purchased at the McArthur Court ticket window 90 minutes prior to game time. The doors to Mac Court open 60 minutes prior to tip.
PROMOTIONS
Sunday, Jan. 3 vs. Washington State is “BI-Mart Family Day” at McArthur Court. Shoe your BI-Mart card at the ticket window on the day of the game and receive admission for two adults and unlimited children for only $20.
FORMER DUCK GREATS RETURN TO MAC COURT
The University of Oregon Athletic Department announced its plan to celebrate the final Pac-10 Conference women's basketball season played at McArthur Court. Each Pac-10 game this season will have a pre-game ceremony featuring at least one honorary captain. In addition, the first 1,000 fans through the doors will receive a 3x7 commemorative ticket highlighting the accomplishments of the honorary captain(s) for that contest. Missy Croshaw, who played at the UO from 1991-94, will serve as the honorary captain for the Oregon-California game on Jan. 21, 2010. Debbie Sporcich will be Oregon's honorary captain for the Ducks' televised match up with Stanford on Jan. 23, 2010.
MAC COURT MEMORIES
The Oregon Athletics Department wants fans to submit their favorite Mac Court memories online and at all home basketball games. Duck fans can write-in their favorite memory of McArthur Court and/or send pictures in to athletics@uoregon.edu (all submissions become the property of the athletic department and will not be returned).
