University of Oregon
8-5, 0-1
Washington State
7-6, 1-0
Duck Offense Sputters In Loss To Cougars
12/30/11 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. – Oregon was forced to play its Pac-12 opener without two of its seniors and team captains on the floor, and it showed as the Ducks suffered a 75-47 loss to Washington State on Thursday night at Matthew Knight Arena.
Senior Amanda Johnson missed her fourth consecutive game with a left thumb fracture, and senior point guard Nia Jackson missed her first game of the year with right knee trouble. Jackson is listed as day-to-day.
Without two of their three leading scorers, the Ducks' offense scored a season low 47 points, and turned the ball over a season-high 24 times. Oregon shot just 25.8 percent (16-of-62) from the floor, and was outrebounded by the margin of 50-42. Also, for the sixth time this season, a UO opponent drained at least 10 three-pointers.
Oregon is now 8-5 on the year, and has lost five of its last seven games. Washington State improves to 7-6 on the year.
In their first trip to Matthew Knight Arena, the Cougars recorded their first win in Eugene since a 58-45 win on Feb. 12, 2009 at Mac Court. For Washington State, the 28-point margin of victory over the Ducks was its largest since a 102-69 win on Jan. 20, 1991. It is also the first time Oregon has lost two consecutive games to the Cougars since being swept by Washington State during the 2001 season.
The Cougars finished the game with four players in double figures led by Jazmine Perkins and Rosetta Adzasu, who score 15 points apiece. Perkins added a game-high tying 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the year.
Oregon was led by Jasmin Holliday's double-double of 12 points and game-high tying 12 rebounds. Oregon's lone senior on the floor led the Ducks in scoring for the fifth time this season and the third time in the last four games. Sophomore Deanna Weaver added 10 points and eight rebounds, while sophomore Ariel Thomas posted a game-high five assists.
Sage Romberg and Carly Noyes added 10 points apiece for Washington State.
Oregon trailed by 22 in the second half, 45-23, with 17:01 to play, but the Ducks mounted a 17-6 run that allowed UO to close 51-40 capped by a Jordan Loera three-pointer with 11:17 to play.
During that run, the Ducks forced Washington State into six turnovers while Oregon completed two three-point plays and knocked down two three-pointers.
Oregon would get no closer than 11 points in the second half, as WSU put together a 12-3 run that had the Cougars leading 63-43 with 7:21 to play.
Oregon entered the half trailing Washington State 38-21 after burying itself an early hole, turning the ball over six times on its first 11 possessions. Washington State's lead grew to double digits, 16-4, with 15:04 to play in the first after UO's six early turnovers.
The Ducks' 21 first-half points matched a season low previously set at Denver on Dec. 11, and UO finished the first half with a season-high 15 turnovers.
The Cougars were able to outscore Oregon 10-1 off turnovers in the first 20 minutes, and once again three-point defense plagued the Ducks. Washington State entered the game averaging 6.7 three-pointers per game, but drained eight in the first half shooting 47.1 percent from behind the arc. Of Washington State's 13 made field goals in the first period, eight were three-pointers.
Perkins led all scorers with 10 points in the first half, while Weaver and Holliday led UO with five points apiece. The Ducks shot 25.0 percent (7-of-28) from the floor in the first half.
The Ducks return to action on Saturday at Matthew Knight Arena, hosting Washington at 2 p.m. The game will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Northwest with Terry Jonz and Jennie Leander calling the action.
Promotions
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.
Notes: Senior point guard Nia Jackson missed her first game of the season with right knee trouble, and is currently day-to-day…the Ducks committed six turnovers on their first 11 possessions of the game…Oregon's 15 first-half turnovers were a season high, and the Ducks 21 first-half points matched a season low set at Denver on Dec. 11…Oregon committed a season-high 24 turnovers…Oregon's 47 points were a new season low and its lowest total since a 69-43 loss to Washington at the Pac-10 Tournament on March 12, 2009…Oregon's 16 made field goals, 62 field goal attempts and 11 free throw attempts were season lows…Oregon's eight free throw made matched a season low… the Cougars recorded their first win in Eugene since a 58-45 win on Feb. 12, 2009 at Mac Court…the 28-point margin of victory over the Ducks was WSU's largest since a 102-69 win on Jan. 20, 1991…It is also the first time Oregon has lost two consecutive games to the Cougars since being swept by Washington State during the 2001 season… Jasmin Holliday led the Ducks in scoring for the fifth time this year and reached double figures for the 12th time, while also recording her third double-double of the season.
