Oregon Weekly WBB Release - Week 7 - University of Oregon Athletics

THIS WEEK
    The Ducks will start Pac-10 Conference play on the road this season, and will celebrate the new year in the state of Arizona, after taking on the Wildcats at 2 p.m. PT, Friday, Jan. 31 in Tucson. Oregon will end its road trip in Tempe, Ariz., squaring off against the Sun Devils at 1 p.m. PT, Sunday, Jan. 2.
    UO's senior class has yet to pick up a win on the road at Arizona or Arizona State during its tenure. The Ducks came the closest to upsetting the Sun Devils in Tempe as freshmen in 2008, falling 52-51 as a last-second shot from Tamika Nurse was off the mark.

Oregon at Arizona
• TV: None
• Radio: OSN - THE SCORE 95.3 FM; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Audio: O-Zone on www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Video: None
• Live stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Live Blog: www.GoDucks.com

Oregon at Arizona State
• TV: None
• Radio: OSN - THE SCORE 95.3 FM; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Audio: O-Zone on www.GoDucks.com, Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Live Video: www.thesundevils.com
• Live stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Live Blog: www.GoDucks.com

PROMOTIONS
    Oregon returns to Mac Court to host its final weekend at the historic arena on Thursday, Jan. 6 with Washington State in Eugene. The Ducks then play the final basketball game ever at McArthur Court against the Washington Huskies on Saturday, Jan. 8.
    It will be Throwback Night at The Pit with free sweatbands given to the first 100 students through the doors. Free popcorn will be handed out to the first 150 fans, while commemorative cups will be available at the concession stands. All Mac Court staff will be dressed representing different decades at The Pit, and the cheer squad and The Duck will also be in throwback attire. Fans will be able to pick up a $5 off coupon at any Eugene/Springfield BI-Mart, Carl's Jr., and Oregon Community Credit Union location.

TICKETS
    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.

SAYING GOODBYE TO McARTHUR COURT
    Oregon will play its final game at McArthur Court hosting the University of Washington on Jan. 8, 2011. It will be the final UO basketball game in Mac Court, as the Oregon men will play Arizona State in their final game on Jan. 1.
    The Ducks will host “Throwback Night” at Mac Court on Jan. 8, and 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.

HELLO MATTHEW KNIGHT ARENA
    The Ducks will make their first appearance at Matthew Knight Arena hosting Oregon State in Civil War action on Jan. 23, 2011. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Net as UO attempts to Pack Matt. General admission tickets are currently available online for $2, and will be available on the day of the game at the ticket box office. Fans will also be able to show their BI-Mart card while purchasing a reserved ticket to the Oregon State game on Jan. 23, and will receive a free general admission ticket to the game against California at 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.
    The school's sparkling new 12,500 seat venue is scheduled to make its grand opening on Thursday, Jan. 13, when the Oregon men's basketball team faces USC, with tip-off for that contest scheduled for 8 p.m.

SANTA CLARA RECAP
    In front of family and friends, junior forward Amanda Johnson led the Ducks to a 99-72 over Santa Clara on Dec. 21 at the Leavey Center.
    Johnson scored a game-high 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, and also added three steals and three 3-pointers as the Ducks finished the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 9-2 record and an unbeaten mark of 5-0 on the road.
    Four Ducks finished in double figures with Victoria Kenyon adding 13 points, and Nia Jackson pouring in 13 points with a game-high tying seven assists.
    Freshman Deanna Weaver reached double figures for the fifth time this season with 12 points.
    Oregon also shot a season-high 85.0 percent (17-of-20) from the free-throw line.
    For Johnson, her double-figure scoring streak extended to 14 games dating back to last season, and the Santa Rosa, Calif., native recorded her Pac-10 leading sixth 20-point performance of the season.
    Sophomore point guard Laura Stanulis dished a career-best and game-high tying seven assists, while freshman Danielle Love scored a career-high eight points.
    Santa Clara (2-9) was led by Lena Gipson's 18 points and 18 rebounds on a 12-of-18 performance from the free-throw line, while guard Alyssa Shoji scored 15 points and drained five 3-pointers.

PREVIEWING ARIZONA
    Arizona begins Pac-10 play on a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating Iona, 79-32, on Tuesday night at the McKale Center. The Wildcats are an undefeated 5-0 at home this season, and are led by sophomore guard Davellyn Whyte's 15.5 points per game.
    Senior forward Ify Ibekwe is averaging 15.1 points and a Pac-10 leading 10.0 rebounds per game, and has recorded two double-doubles on the season.
    In the Pac-10, Arizona is second to only Oregon in scoring, averaging 79.5 points per game while shooting 45.4 percent from the floor. Both teams head into Friday afternoon's game with identical records of 9-2.

INJURY UPDATE
    Freshman guard Ariel Thomas has missed the last four games due to shin splints, and is currently day-to-day.

LEADER OF THE PACK
    Amanda Johnson has reached double figures in scoring for the last 14 consecutive games dating back to last season.
    The Santa Rosa, Calif., native currently leads the Pac-10 and Oregon averaging 19.9 points per game, and ranks second in the conference while leading UO grabbing 9.5 rebounds per game.
    After a 27-point performance in Oregon's 99-72 victory at Santa Clara on Dec. 21, Johnson has led the Ducks in scoring nine times this season, including the last five contests.
    Currently, Johnson's 17 career double-doubles tie for seventh in Oregon history with Renae Fegent, and her 95 career 3-pointers rank 10th in UO all-time history.
    This weekend, Johnson has the opportunity to reach the 900-point mark for her career as she currently rests at 888 career points.

MILESTONES
    During Oregon's road trip to the Bay Area, Johnson knocked down a combined six 3-pointers in wins at Saint Mary's and Santa Clara. Johnson's 95 career 3-pointers rank 10th all-time in UO history.
    If Johnson is able to reach the 1,000-point mark for her career this season (currently at 888), she will become the ninth player in UO history to complete the feat in their junior year, and the first since Shaquala Williams in the 2001-02 season.
    Junior point guard Nia Jackson became the first Oregon player since Corrie Mizusawa on Feb. 5, 2005, to record double figures in assists. Jackson posted the first double-double of her career with 17 points and a career-best 11 assists in Oregon's Dec. 19, 100-71 win at Saint Mary's.

DOUBLE THE FUN
    Only two players have reached double figures in all 11 games for Oregon this season - juniors Amanda Johnson and Nia Jackson. Johnson has led the team in scoring on nine occasions - including Oregon's last five games - while Jackson has topped the scoreboard once, but has led the Ducks in assists nine times.
    Jackson currently rests second in the Pac-10 averaging 5.9 assists per game, and has reached double figures in 12 straight games dating back to last season. Johnson's double-figure scoring streak is at 14 games.

THE DISH
    Junior point guard Nia Jackson's 5.9 assists per game rank second in the Pac-10. The Seattle native's 2.9 steals per game rank fourth in the conference, while Jackson's 15.5 points per game tie for sixth in the league.

ON FIRE
    Senior guard Kristi Fallin has reached double figures for the Ducks in UO's last five of six games, averaging 12.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, while shooting 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the floor.
    The Roseburg, Ore., native also was responsible for a career-high three assists in UO's win at Saint Mary's (Dec. 19), and set a new career best with five steals in the Ducks' win at Santa Clara (Dec. 21). Fallin has also knocked down 14 three-pointers in UO's last six games.

FORWARD FACTION
    Senior forward Victoria Kenyon has found her scoring touch in the Ducks' last two games. The native of Australia scored a season-high 16 points and knocked down three 3-pointers in UO's Dec. 19 win at Saint Mary's. Kenyon continued that streak in the Bay Area with 13 points and two 3-pointers in the Dec. 21 win at Santa Clara.
    Junior forward Jasmin Holliday is in her first season as a fulltime starter, and this year has won 9-of-11 jump balls.
    The Chino Hills, Calif., native is averaging 9.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

FULL-COURT PRESSURE
    The Ducks are using their full-court pressure defense and up-tempo offense to disrupt opponents. Currently Oregon is forcing opponents into 27.7 turnovers per game, while the Ducks are leading the Pac-10 in both assists (18.0 apg) and steals (15.1 spg).

UP-TEMPO OFFENSE
    Oregon has reached triple digits in scoring three times this season, and is currently averaging a Pac-10 leading 88.5 points per game.
    The Ducks also lead the Pac-10 in scoring margin (+18.7 ppg), and rank first in the league knocking down 7.8 three-pointers per game.

THE STARTING FIVE
    Head coach Paul Westhead's starting five has a new look for the 2010-11 season. The Ducks returned three starters from last year's squad, including Nia Jackson, Amanda Johnson and Victoria Kenyon, but lost guards Taylor Lilley and Micaela Cocks to graduation.
    Oregon's first player off the bench last season, junior wing Jasmin Holliday, now has a starting spot, and is averaging 9.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. At shooting guard, junior college transfer Ashley Buis has knocked down 17 three-pointers, and is averaging 8.0 points per game, having reached double figures in five contests.

THE ROOKIES
    Oregon head coach Paul Westhead has been adamant about using a deep bench in non-conference play this season. All five newcomers, including four freshmen, have seen action on the floor.
    Deanna Weaver, who can play either forward position, is currently averaging 9.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game off the bench. Guard Ariel Thomas is averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 13.3 minutes per game.

CALLING IN THE RESERVES
    Oregon has scored 973 points this season, with 318 of those points coming from the reserves. In 11 games, Oregon's bench has outscored the opponent's bench 318-229. The Ducks' reserves have been outscored only twice this season and UO has an 1-1 record in those games. Oregon is 8-1 when its bench out scores the opponent.

WALKING THE RED CARPET
    Conference play hasn't begun, but award season has. Amanda Johnson was named Pac-10 Women's Basketball Player of the Week for the week on Nov. 29, after helping Oregon to a 3-1 record during the week of Nov. 22-28.
    Johnson was voted the Oregon Invitational's Most Valuable Player, and led the Ducks in scoring (20.5 ppg), rebounding (10.8 rpg), steals (15) and blocks (6) during UO's four games from Nov. 22-28.
    Junior point guard Nia Jackson was also named to the Oregon Invitational all-tournament team after averaging 17.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.3 steals per game.

ON AND OFF THE COURT
    Junior Amanda Johnson returns as one of Oregon's most experienced student-athletes, leading the returners in several career categories; points, scoring average, field goals made, 3-point field goals made, rebounds and steals.
    Off the court last season, Johnson flourished in the classroom, becoming the first Oregon women's basketball player since 1990 to be named to the 2009-10 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America® University Division second team. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native, was also named to the Pac-10 All-Academic First Team, and was awarded the Doyle Higdon Memorial Trophy, given annually to a University of Oregon sophomore for excellence in athletics, scholarship and citizenship.
    During the summer, Johnson was awarded her undergraduate degree Summa Cum Laude, graduating in the top two percent of her class with a double major in psychology and sociology. She is now pursuing her master's in couples and family therapy.
    On the court last year, Johnson was named Pac-10 Honorable Mention after averaging 12.7 points per game with a team-leading (3rd Pac-10) 8.5 rebounds per game. Her 290 total rebounds tied for ninth in Oregon's single-season record book, and she also finished the season with 11 double-doubles, 24 double-figure scoring games and five 20-point efforts.