University of Oregon
7-3
Nevada
3-7
Buzzer Beater Spoils Oregon Comeback
12/15/11 | Women's Basketball
RENO, Nev. – Kate Kevorken's buzzer beater dashed Oregon's hopes of a hard-fought comeback as her jumper from the top of the key cemented Nevada's 76-74 victory over the Ducks at the Lawlor Events Center on Wednesday night.
The Ducks, who trailed by as many as 12 in the game, tied things up on a Deanna Weaver lay-up with 1:06 to play, but failed to convert on two attempts during their final possession of the game.
Nevada used all of 14.3 seconds left in the game on its final possession until Kevorken was able to get her shot off as the final buzzer sounded.
Oregon (7-3) has now lost two in a row for the first time this season, and remains winless on the road (0-3).
Kevorken led Nevada (3-7) with 25 points and 11 rebounds as the Wolf Pack snapped a five-game losing streak.
The Ducks were without leading scorer and senior Amanda Johsnon for the first time in 104 games as she suffered a left thumb injury at Denver on Sunday. But fellow veteran
Jasmin Holliday scored a career and game-high 26 points and fell short of a double-double with nine rebounds. She also matched a career-high with six steals.
Oregon trailed 71-65 until the Ducks scored four points quickly as Holliday hit a jumper with 3:45 to play, and Laura Stanulis stole the Nevada inbound pass leading to two Jordan Loera made free throws.
But Nevada answered with its first three-pointer of the second half as Kevorken put the Wolf Pack back up by five points.
The Ducks again battled as Nia Jackson converted a fastbreak lay-up and a free throw before Weaver's game-tying lay-up.
Weaver scored a career-high 18 points and added seven rebounds in 29 minutes of action as she started for Johnson in her absence. It was Weaver's first start since March 9, 2011 against Arizona at the Pac-10 Tournament.
Jackson recorded double figures for the second game in a row with 14 points, and also matched a career high with seven steals while adding four assists.
Danika Sharp scored all of her 19 points in the first half, knocking down five three-pointers, while Aja Johnson recorded a double-double with 17 points and a game-high14 reboundsfor Nevada.
The Wolf Pack outrebounded Oregon 51-38, and totaled 17 offensive rebounds, holding an 18-11 advantage in second-chance points. Nevada also shot 43.5 percent (30-of-69) from the floor.
The Ducks bested their previous season-high steal total by 10 as Oregon accumulated 26 steals and Nevada turned the ball over 32 times, allowing Oregon to score 31 points off the Wolf Pack's miscues.
After trailing by 12 at the break, Oregon opened the second half on a 7-0 run.
The Ducks trailed 58-54 with 13:30 to play, but hit a cold stretch as Nevada went on a 9-2 run to once again bring its lead back to double digits, 67-56, with 8:58 to play. Oregon went without a field goal for nearly five minutes as Jackson's jumper at the 11:30 mark was the last for the Ducks until Holliday's runner in the lane with 6:32 to play.
The Ducks shot 39.2 percent (29-of-74) for the game, but 47.2 percent (17-of-36) in the second half as Oregon outscored the Wolf Pack 42-32 in the second period.
During the first half there were 17 lead changes and two tie scores, but Oregon's offense was held mute for the final 4:24 of the first period.
After a 3-pointer from Danielle Love put the Ducks ahead 31-30 with 4:24 to play, Nevada went on a 14-1 run and took a 44-32 lead into the break. Oregon's only point came from a Holliday free throw.
Weaver and Holliday led the Ducks with 10 points apiece in the first half as Oregon shot 31.6 percent (12-of-38) from the floor.
Nevada was led by Sharp's 19 first-half points as the sophomore shot 5-of-7 from three-point range. As a team the Wolf Pack shot 45.7 percent (16-of-35) from the floor and 53.8 percent (7-of-13) from three-point range.
Oregon will finish the non-conference portion of its schedule at Matthew Knight Arena, where the Ducks are 7-0 this season.
Oregon hosts Cal State Northridge at 7 p.m. on Monday before hosting Saint Mary's at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
Happy Holidays! - Monday, Dec. 19 (7: 00 PM)
FREE Oregon women's basketball trading cards will be given to the first 2,000 fans through the doors! General admission tickets will be available for $3, and pregame Gingerbread house making for all kids in attendance.
Family Furlough Day - Wednesday, Dec. 21 (12:00 PM)
All kids ages 12 and under can purchase $3 general admission tickets. Bring your ticket from the Dec. 20 men's basketball game against North Carolina Central, and receive free admission.
Notes: Oregon was without Amanda Johnson for the first time in her career. The senior had played in all 103 games until Wednesday's game at Nevada, and it was the first time Johnson was not in the starting lineup for the Ducks since March 12, 2009 in a 69-43 loss to Washington at the Pac-10 tournament. Johnson will be evaluated further when the Ducks return to Eugene…the Ducks used a new starting lineup against Nevada with Nia Jackson, Ariel Thomas, Jasmin Holliday, Deanna Weaver and Danielle Love…Oregon held Nevada scoreless until the 15:56 mark of the first half when Danika Sharp drained a three-pointer…Jasmin Holliday scored a career-high 26 points, surpassing her previous total of 24 scored in the season opener against Cal Poly…Holliday completed two three-point plays in the game, increasing her season total to five…Holliday has recorded double figures in 9 of 10 games this season as well as three 20-point games…in its last five games, Oregon has allowed opponents to knock down a total of 60 three-pointers and allowed an individual to drain at least five three-pointers in the last five games…Oregon set a new season high with 26 steals...Deanna Weaver scored a career-high 18 points.
