Oregon WBB Weekly Release: Washington State
12/29/11 | Women's Basketball
Washington State at Oregon LIVE COVERAGE
• Date: Thursday, Dec. 29
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Venue: Matthew Knight Arena
• Radio: KUGN 590 AM in Eugene/Springfield; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Webcast: O-Zone
• Live Audio: O-Zone • Live Stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Twitter: @OregonWBB for in-game updates, stats, etc
• Facebook
• vs. Washington State : Oregon leads 57-13
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
Washington State, Dec. 29 – Jerry's 2-For-1
Pick up a coupon at your local Jerry's Home Improvement Center and receive two tickets for the price of one.
Washington, Dec. 31 – Drop the Ball with Paul
Visit your local Bi-Mart, Carl's Jr., or Oregon Community Credit Union to pick up a coupon for $5 off reserved tickets. Also, the Oregon women's basketball team will be signing autographs after the game.
THIS WEEK
Oregon opens Pac-12 play this week, hosting Washington State (6-6) at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Matthew Knight Arena. Following UO's game against the Cougars, Washington (8-2) will visit Oregon on Saturday for a 2 p.m. contest televised on Comcast SportsNet Northwest.
The opening of the 2011-12 Pac-12 season marks the second time in the Paul Westhead era that the Ducks have opened conference play hosting the Cougars and Huskies in Eugene. During the 2009-10 campaign, Oregon swept Washington and Washington State at Mac Court during the first weekend of league play.
This weekend will also mark the first appearance of the Washington schools at Matthew Knight Arena. Last year, the Ducks swept the Huskies and Cougars in Eugene, playing the final games ever at McArthur Court.
HEALTH REPORT
• Freshman center Janitah Iamaleava suffered a season-ending left knee injury during a pre-season practice that will keep her off the floor for the 2011-12 season.
• Oregon leading scorer and rebounder Amanda Johnson suffered a left thumb fracture on Dec. 11 in a loss at Denver. She is expected to be out of action a minimum of two more weeks.
WASHINGTON STATE NOTES
• Oregon holds a 57-13 advantage in the all-time series against Washington State, including a 28-5 mark in Eugene. In the Paul Westhead era, the Ducks and Cougars have split the series in the last two years, with each team picking up two wins on their home court.
• Also during the last two seasons, Oregon has averaged
79.5 points against WSU, while the Cougars have averaged 81.8 points per game against Oregon - as the series features two games with each team reaching the 90-point threshold.
• During last season's 96-90 Washington State victory over Oregon in Pullman, the teams set a new Oregon single-game record making 26 three-pointers combined - a record that was surpassed this year by Portland and the Ducks combining for 27 treys on Dec. 4, 2011. Oregon also set a new UO record for attempting 40 three-pointers in last season's loss at WSU.
• The meeting between Oregon and Washington State will feature a match up between good friends and former teammates: Oregon freshman Jordan Loera and Washington State junior Carly Noyes. The pair played together for two years at Moses Lake High School, and also played for the Spokane Stars club team.
• The last time Washington State won in Eugene was a 58-45 victory on Feb. 12, 2009. In the game, then UO freshman Amanda Johnson recorded the first double-double of her career with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Jasmin Holliday was also in the starting lineup as a rookie with six points and five rebounds. Also freshmen at the time, WSU guards Jazmine Perkins and April Cook scored 17 points apiece. Current WSU senior Rosie Tarnowski was also in the staring lineup for that game.
• The Cougars do not have a player averaging double figures, but have five players averaging seven points or more per game led by Ireti Amojo's 9.5 ppg. The Cougars are scoring 65.8 ppg, and enter Thursday's contest on a two-game losing streak.
LAST TIME OUT
In last Wednesday's 72-62 loss to Saint Mary's at Matt Arena, the Ducks suffered three firsts this year. Oregon was issued its first loss at Matthew Knight Arena this season, and UO never led in the game - also a first for the 2011-12 campaign. Senior Jasmin Holliday also lost her first tip of the year.
The Ducks' 62 points were a new season low, and UO's lowest total since scoring 60 points at Stanford on Feb. 26, 2011. Jasmine Smith's (SMC) 23 first-half points were the most an opponent has scored against the Ducks in a half this season, and her seven three-pointers and 35 points were both season highs for a UO opponent this year. Oregon's 62 points, 18 made field goals, .243 (18-74) field goal percentage and 11 turnovers were all season lows.
PLAYING FAST
Head coach Paul Westhead said before the season started that he wanted his team playing even faster. So far, so good. The Ducks' 80.1 points per game ranks second in the Pac-12 (behind No. 4 Stanford), and UO entered last week ranking sixth the country.
During head coach Paul Westhead's three years at Oregon, the Ducks have finished in the country's top-15 in scoring in back-to-back seasons, averaging 81.4 points (2010, 2nd) and 73.3 points per game (2011, 15th). In fact, during the last two seasons, the Ducks have averaged 79.0 points per game overall, out done only by Oral Roberts (84.7 ppg) and Gonzaga (82.7 ppg). In the last three years, Oregon has produced seven 100-point games, recording a 6-1 mark in those contests.
Oregon's 7.7 three-pointers per game rank first in the Pac-12, and the Ducks entered last week ranking15th in the nation. The Ducks have proven to be a deadly three-point shooting team, finishing third in the country averaging 8.5 three-pointers per game in 2011, while ranking seventh in 2010 knocking down 8.4 long-distance buckets per game.
BEGINNING PAC-12 PLAY
• Oregon began its season 6-0, not suffering its first loss until an 81-71 defeat at Fresno State on Dec. 1. On Dec. 11 at Denver, the Ducks suffered their second and worst loss of the year, 89-65, to the Pioneers. During that game, Oregon also lost senior and leading scorer and rebounder Amanda Johnson to a broken left thumb. Oregon is 1-3 in its last four games, and 1-2 without Johnson in the lineup. In the Ducks' last three games without Johnson, Oregon is averaging 71.7 points per game compared to 83.3 ppg before her injury. In its last three games, UO is also suffering a -4.3 rebounding margin, compared to +3.7 with Johnson starting.
DOUBLE-FIGURES
• Oregon has recorded four wins by 10 points or more.
• Oregon's roster has totaled 38 occasions of players scoring in double figures led by Jasmin Holiday (11).
• The Ducks have also posted nine double-figure rebounding efforts led by Amanda Johnson (6).
MORE NUMBERS
• The Ducks are an undefeated 8-0 when they shoot a higher percentage than their opponent.
• Oregon has not trailed in two games this season.
• In their last seven games, the Ducks have held the rebounding edge (311-301), and in addition have averaged 18.9 offensive boards per game, scoring a total of 111 second-chance points.
SCHEDULE
The Ducks have compiled a difficult schedule as 14 of their opponents reached the postseason a year ago. Nine teams played in the 2011 Women's National Invitation Tournament, and five appeared in the NCAA Tournament.
TREY TROUBLE
In its last seven games, Oregon has a 3-4 record, and has allowed opponents to knock down a total of 72 three-pointers (10.3 per game). In the last seven games, UO opponents have been shooting a remarkable 40.7 percent from three-point range compared to Oregon at 30.3 percent. In the last seven games, an opponent has had an individual player knock down at least five three-pointers on seven occasions: KK Babin 5-9 (Nicholls State), Rosie Moult 5-14 and Ki-Ki Moore 5-8 (Fresno State), ReZina Teclemariam 6-11 (Portland), Morgan Van Riper-Rose 5-5 (Denver), Danika Sharp 5-10 (Nevada) and Jasmine Smith (7-14) Saint Mary's.
SENIOR MOMENT
Senior Jasmin Holliday worked harder than ever this offseason, and apparently hard work pays off. The native of Chino Hills, Calif., is averaging a career-best 16.8 points per game, and in the last three games without Amanda Johnson has improved that mark to 20.3 ppg.
She leads the team with 11 double-figure scoring games, already besting her best season total of eight from her sophomore campaign. The Chino Hills, Calif., native is also shooting a team-leading 53.5 percent from the floor.
Holliday set a new career high scoring 26 points in a loss at Nevada on Dec. 14. On Dec. 19 in a win over Cal State Northridge, Holliday led the Ducks in scoring for the fourth time this season with 23 points in a victory over Cal State Northridge. It was the fourth 20-point game of her season and career.
AWARD WINNER
Before two knee injuries sidelined her for the final nine games of last season, senior guard Nia Jackson led the Pac-10 averaging 17.0 points and 5.7 assists per game. Despite missing the final half of conference play, Jackson was named to the 2011 Pac-10 First Team and the 2011 Media All-Pac-10 Team.
The Ducks were 12-9 with Jackson in the lineup, and 1-8 in the final nine games of the year without her. The Ducks averaged 80.5 points per game with Jackson in the lineup, and 66.7 points per game without her.
The Seattle native has returned from off-season surgery and is cleared to play, but is continuing to regain her strength and stamina.
Currently Jackson is averaging 9.7 points and a team-leading 4.2 assists per game. She has reached double figures in four of UO's last six games, and continues to climb two all-time statistical charts. Jackson's 178 career steals tie for fifth all-time, and her 306 career assists rank ninth. Jackson has delivered at least six assists on four occasions this year.
JOHNSON ON FIRE
Before her injury, Oregon senior forward Amanda Johnson had recorded six double-doubles in nine games this season, along with eight double-figure scoring games.
The Santa Rosa, Calif., native's average of 20.1 points per game ranked second in the Pac-12 and 16th in the country, while her 10.7 rebounds per game rank third in the conference and 15th in the nation.
Johnson's career numbers include; 1,327 points (11th), 797 rebounds (8th), 142 three-pointers (7th), 178 steals (5th), 26 double-doubles (7th), 65 double-figure scoring games, three 30-point games, 18 20-point games, 33 times leading the club in scoring and 62 occasions leading the team in rebounding.
ENTERING THE STARTING LINEUP
After ending the 2010-11 season starting the last nine games of the year, Deanna Weaver and Ariel Thomas started their sophomore season on the bench as both battled injuries.
Due to Amanda Johnson's left thumb injury, Weaver has replaced her in the starting lineup. After missing three games at the start of the year with a toe injury, Weaver started her first game of the year at Nevada on Dec. 14. She scored a career-high 18 points in the loss. She is currently averaging 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
As a freshman last season, Thomas averaged 8.0 points and 2.2 assists per game, appearing in 26 games. In the absence of Nia Jackson, Thomas took over point guard duties and started the final nine games of the year, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game during that stretch.
With Jackson back on the floor, Thomas has moved into the starting role at shooting guard, registering her first start of the year at Nevada. She missed the first three games of the year with Achilles trouble, and is currently averaging 7.7 points per game.
FINALIZING THE TRIO
Sophomore Danielle Love finalizes the starting front court trio of herself, Deanna Weaver and Jasmin Holliday. The Everett, Wash., native has recorded three new career scoring highs this year. The latest was a 16-point effort in a Dec. 4 win over Portland. She added 10 rebounds and a career-best five assists, recording her first double-double this season and the second of her career.
Love is the one player head coach Paul Westhead can't take out of the game as she is playing a team-best 32.5 minutes per game.
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
Oregon's freshman class was ranked 49th in the country by ESPN HoopGurlz.
SHE'S A SHOOTER
Freshman guard Jordan Loera is a second generation Duck as her mother, Lori Carver Loera, played basketball at UO from 1983-84.
Loera scored a career-high and team-high tying 17 points in an 89-77 victory over UC Irvine, while also knocking down a career-best five three-pointers. The Moses Lake, Wash., native is averaging 7.3 points per game, and leads the Ducks with 21 three-pointers.
RUNNING THE FLOOR
Freshman forward Lexi Petersen (Tukwila, Wash./Seattle Christian HS) won four straight conference titles at Seattle Christian HS, and was a two-time Nisqually 1A Player of the Year (2009, 2010). In Westhead's system, Petersen's speed has been put to good use. The rookie is averaging 4.8 points per game.
A FIRST
Freshman guard Amanda Delgado (Las Vegas/Liberty HS) was named the 2011 Gatorade Nevada Girls Basketball Player of the Year after averaging 16.1 points, 3.8 assists and 2.3 steals per game as a senior. Delgado has appeared off the bench in seven games.
UNDER THE BASKET
Freshman center Megan Carpenter (Longmont, Colo./Longmont HS) was a two-time all-4A Northern Conference selection and two-time Longmont Times Call all-area selection in 2010 and 2011. Carpenter is averaging 3.8 rebounds per game.
RUNNING THE POINT
Junior point guard Laura Stanulis continues to handle back-up point guard duties as Ariel Thomas spends time at shooting guard. A former walk-on and now on scholarship, Stanulis is averaging a career-best 4.8 points per game, and is also second on the team with 32 assists.
NEW ADDITION
Oregon freshman Liz Brenner joined the UO women's basketball team officially on Dec. 19 after being cleared for competition by the NCAA. Brenner recently finished her freshman season competing for the UO women's volleyball team.
With two games under her belt, Brenner has played a total of 34 minutes, averaging 4.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game.
