University of Oregon
6-2
UC Riverside
6-2
Oregon's Offense Struggles Early In Loss
12/15/10 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon's offense failed to find a rhythm on Tuesday night at Mac Court as the Ducks suffered a 74-69 loss to visiting UC Riverside.
Oregon (6-2) set season lows across the board including total points (69), field goals made (25), free-throw percentage (.429), rebounds (39) and assists (12).
UC Riverside (6-2) was led by Alyssa Morris' double-double of 14 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Highlanders shot 41.9 percent (26-62)from the floor and outrebounded Oregon, 45-39. It was the first time in UO's last five games the Ducks have been beaten on the boards.
UO was without freshmen Deanna Weaver and Ariel Thomas, who are each battling shin splints and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.
But Oregon's biggest obstacle in the game wasn't rebounding or injuries, the Ducks' largest hindrance was a poor shooting night, 12-28 (.429), from the free-throw line.
Oregon was led by Amanda Johnson's game-high 24 points as the Santa Rosa, Calif., native fell just one rebound short of a double-double with a team-leading nine boards.
Nia Jackson battled foul and free-throw (3-of-13) trouble, but still managed to chip in 16 points for UO with a team-leading five assists.
Senior guard Kristi Fallin recorded her third consecutive game with double figures, adding 14 points and knocking down three 3-pointers, while Jasmin Holliday added 10 points and six rebounds.
Oregon trailed by as many as 16 points in the first half, but worked hard in the second half to make up the deficit scoring 13 points off UCR turnovers.
The Ducks closed within five points of the Highlanders on six separate occasions before the final moments of the game, but failed to capitalize on any further momentum.
With 40 seconds left, Jackson cruised down the floor on a breakaway holding the ball at the top of the arc for a trailing Johnson who drained a trey to bring Oregon within 69-65. After a steal, Jackson was sent to the line and made just 1-of-2, while UCR's Brittany Waddell knocked down both of her opportunities to extend the Highlanders' lead to 71-65 with 12 seconds to go.
UO had one last fighting chance after Victoria Kenyon stole an inbound pass with two seconds left and was sent to the line. The senior made just 1-of-2 opportunities as Oregon closed 72-69. But the Highlanders' TreShonti Nottingham sank two free throws with 0.7 seconds on the clock to seal the win.
Rhaya Neabors led UCR with 17 points, while Nottingham scored 16. Waddell came off the bench to score 16 points and grab seven rebounds, while Nicole Anderson dished a game-high seven assists.
Oregon had a dreadful first half and went into the locker room trailing 33-24 as the Ducks shot just 33.3 percent from the floor and committed 12 turnovers.
UO's 24 first-half points was its lowest point total in a half this season.
UC Riverside built its lead by holding Oregon scoreless for over five minutes as the Highlanders turned an 11-6 advantage into a 21-8 lead before Nicole Canepa finally broke the scoring drought with a basket in the paint.
Oregon's scoring drought was part of a 19-4 run by the Highlanders.
UC Riverside drained five first-half 3-pointers as UO struggled without Jackson, who picked up her third foul by the 16:50 mark of the first half.
Johnson led UO with eight points and six rebounds in the first 20 minutes, while Waddell led UCR with 10 points off the bench.
Oregon continues its homestand hosting Denver at 7 p.m. on Friday night. It will be Scout and Military Night at Mac Court when the Ducks host the Pioneers. Scouts can wear their uniform to Mac Court to receive general admission for only $2. Military members can show their ID cards and receive general admission for only $3.
Fans are also asked to bring books, games and DVDs to the game to be donated to www.BooksForSoldiers.com. All donations are sent to troops located overseas.
The Ducks finish the non-conference portion of their schedule on the road at Saint Mary's on Sunday and at Santa Clara on Tuesday.
Oregon will return home to play its final two Pac-10 games ever at Mac Court on Thursday, Jan. 6 and Saturday, Jan. 8.
The Ducks will host “Throwback Night” at Mac Court on Jan. 8 as Washington comes into town. Fans will be able to pick up a $5 off coupon at any BI-Mart, Carl's Jr., or Oregon Community Credit Union Eugene/Springfield location to receive $5 off a reserved ticket.
Notes: Oregon was without freshmen Ariel Thomas and Deanna Weaver who are battling shin splints and are currently day-to-day…Oregon's 24 points in the first half was the Ducks lowest scoring total in a half this season…Amanda Johnson recorded the 800th point of her career with a 3-pointer at the 6:50 mark of the first half…UC Riverside strung together a 14-2 run to put Oregon down 16-6 with 12:04 remaining in the first half, it was the first time the Ducks have trailed by double digits since Nov. 22 at Portland…Johnson (24 points) and Nia Jackson (16) have each scored double figures in all eight games this season…Kristi Fallin (14 points) recorded her third-straight double-figure scoring effort and Jasmin Holliday (10 points) cracked double digits for the fourth time this season...Johnson (nine rebounds) also led Oregon in rebounding for the sixth time this season…the Ducks set season lows in points (69), field goals made (25), field goal attempts (63), free-throw percentage (.429), rebounds (39) and assists (12)…UCR's .419 field goal percentage was the highest of an UO opponent this season as well as the club's game-high 18 assists…senior Ellyce Ironmonger, who missed the first seven games of the season recovering from offseason ankle surgery dressed but did not play in Tuesday's game.
