Oregon WBB Weekly Release: Arizona
01/10/12 | Women's Basketball
Arizona at Oregon LIVE COVERAGE
• Date: Thursday, Jan. 12
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Venue: Matthew Knight Arena
• TV: None
• 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. Arizona: Oregon leads 29-25
Tickets: www.GoDucks.com
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
Arizona, Jan. 12 - Pack The Pit
The Ducks will be giving away Pit Crew shoes, 100 pizzas and 200 T-shirts, and the team will be signing autographs after the game.
Arizona State, Jan. 14 - Social Media Day
Purchase $3 GA tickets through the promo code on the Oregon Facebook page, and get Mac Club access, an autographed team poster and a special Q&A session with the players after the game.
THIS WEEK
Oregon (9-7, 1-3) returns to Matthew Knight Arena on a two-game losing streak, after dropping a pair of contests at fourth-ranked Stanford and California last week.
The Ducks are currently at the bottom of the Pac-12 standings along with Oregon State and Washington, as each program sports a 1-3 record in conference play, respectively.
UO will first host Arizona (12-3, 1-2) at 7 p.m., Thursday, before welcoming Arizona State (10-4, 1-2) at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
PROMOTIONS
If Oregon scores 100 points or more in a game this season at Matt Arena, all fans in attendance will receive free garlic parmesan bread sticks from Papa John's Pizza by taking their ticket stub to any of the three Eugene-Springfield Papa John's locations within 10 days for redemption.
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 is currently out of action after suffering a left thumb fracture on Dec. 11 in a loss at Denver.
ARIZONA NOTES
• Arizona opened the non-conference portion of its schedule 11-1, which included a season-long six-game winning streak. The Wildcats opened Pac-12 action with a loss at rival Arizona State, 60-45, on Dec. 31. Last week, Arizona split its home series defeating UCLA, 74-66, before falling to USC, 72-67.
• Junior guard Davellyn White leads Arizona averaging 19.5 points per game, while sophomore forward Erica Barnes chips in 12.8 points and a team-leading 9.0 rebounds per game.
• Arizona leads the Pac-12 in three-point field goal percentage (.383), knocking down a total of 100 long-distance buckets this year. That's not good news for Oregon, which ranks last in the conference (333rd nation) in three-point field goal percentage defense, surrendering a total of 160 three-point buckets at a .373 clip. However, the Ducks are the only team to knock down more three-pointers than Arizona in the Pac-12 this year, leading the league and ranking 10th in the country with 124.
• During the Paul Westhead era, Arizona holds a 4-1 advantage over Oregon. The Ducks' lone win was a 92-74 victory on Feb. 11, 2010 as six players scored in double figures for UO led by Nia Jackson's 18 points. Amanda Johnson added a double-double of 13 points and a game-high 14 rebounds, while Jasmin Holliday poured in 11 points. In the five-game series during the Westhead era, Oregon has averaged 90.4 points per game, while Arizona has averaged 96.0 ppg, and the 90-point threshold has been reached a combined six out of 10 times. Last season, the Wildcats swept the Ducks in three meetings: Tucson, Eugene and at the Pac-10 Tournament.
• In the last meeting between the two programs, Oregon mounted a momentous comeback but came up just one bucket short as No. 4 seed Arizona escaped to the 2011 Pac-10 Tournament quarterfinals with a 90-89 victory over No. 9 seed Oregon on March 9. Point guard Ariel Thomas willed Oregon to erase what was a one-time 18-point second-half deficit as the Sacramento native scored a career and game high 29 points in the highest scoring game in the history of the Pac-10 Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
California's monstrous rebounding advantage led the Bears to a 90-67 victory over Oregon last Saturday at Haas Pavilion.
The Bears scored 29 second-chance points as their 28 offensive rebounds outnumbered Oregon's total of 26 boards. Cal totaled 63 rebounds for the game - the most UO has surrendered to an opponent this season - while the Ducks also posted a new season low.
Four Cal players finished in double figures led by Gennifer Brandon's double-double of a game-high 17 points as well as game-high 19 rebounds. Talia Caldwell added 15 points and 13 rebounds, while Mikayla Lyles scored all of her 14 points off the bench and in the first half. Cal shot 40.0 percent (32-of-80) from the floor and knocked down seven three-pointers - all in the first half.
Sophomore guard Ariel Thomas led the Ducks with 16 points, while freshman Jordan Loera scored 14 points - her most against a Pac-12 opponent - draining four three-pointers. Deanna Weaver recorded her fifth consecutive game in double figures with 10 points.
After trailing by 19 points at the half, Oregon closed within 13, 57-44, with 15:27 to play on a Thomas three-pointer, but the Ducks would get no closer. Cal held Oregon scoreless from the 8:07 mark of the second half until Loera's three-pointer at the 2:53 mark, as the Bears produced a 15-0 run and led by 29, 84-55.
THE LAST SEVEN
Since Amanda Johnson suffered a broken left thumb at Denver on Dec. 11, the Ducks have posted a 2-5 record without Johnson in the lineup. The Ducks began the season 7-2 with Johnson in the starting five. Oregon was scoring 83.3 points per game with Johnson, as well as posting a positive rebounding margin of 4.2 per game. In the last seven games without Johnson, UO is averaging 69.6 points per game, and posts a negative rebound margin of 11.4 per game.
NATIONAL TOP 25
Oregon currently ranks second in the Pac-12 and 16th in the nation averaging 77.3 points per game. Maryland and Notre Dame lead the nation scoring 84.4 points per game. The Ducks' 7.8 three-pointers per game lead the Pac-12 and rank 10th in the nation, while UO's 11.6 steals per game lead the league and rank 34th in the country. Oregon's 4.8 blocked shots per game rank 47th.
PLAYING FAST
Head coach Paul Westhead said before the season started that he wanted his team playing even faster. After UO's 6-0 start, the Ducks were averaging 87.7 points per game, but that number has dropped to 77.3 points per game (2nd Pac-12) with the absence of Johnson for the last seven games.
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 7.8 three-pointers per game rank first in the Pac-12 and 10th 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.
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.
DOUBLE-FIGURES
• Oregon has recorded four wins by 10 points or more. The Ducks have also posted a 4-1 record in games decided by four points or less.
• Oregon's roster has totaled 51 occasions of players scoring in double figures led by Jasmin Holliday (13).
• The Ducks have also posted 10 double-figure rebounding efforts led by Amanda Johnson (6).
• Oregon has recorded four games with 10 or more three-pointers.
TREY TROUBLE
On eight occasions this season, Oregon has allowed an opponent to knock down at least 10 three-pointers in a game. On the year, the Ducks have allowed opponents to drain 160 long-distance shots as opponents are shooting 37.3 percent from 3-point range.
In its last 11 games, Oregon has a 4-7 record, and has allowed opponents to knock down a total of 115 three-pointers (10.5 per game). In the last 11 games, UO opponents have been shooting a remarkable 39.0 percent from three-point range compared to Oregon at 31.2 percent. In the last 11 games, an opponent has had an individual player knock down at least five three-pointers on 10 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), Jasmine Smith (7-14) Saint Mary's, Kellie McCann-Smith 6-11 (Washington), Taylor Greenfield 5-8 (Stanford) and Bonnie Samuelson 6-13 (Stanford).
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 15.1 points per game. Holliday has led Oregon in scoring on five occasions, and has led the Ducks on the boards a team-best eight times.
She leads the team with 13 double-figure scoring games, and set a new career high, scoring 26 points in a loss at Nevada on Dec. 14. This season, Holliday has posted four 20-point efforts and three double-doubles.
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. She missed her first and only game of the year with right knee trouble on Dec. 29 against Washington State.
Currently Jackson is averaging 10.2 points and a team-leading 4.0 assists per game. Jackson's 181 career steals rank fifth all-time, and her 315 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.
D WEAVE FOR THREE
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.
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.
Weaver is currently averaging 8.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and is also on a five-game double-figure scoring streak. In the last five games, Weaver is averaging a team-leading 12.6 points per game.
SHOOTING TOUCH
In the absence of Nia Jackson last season, Ariel 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.
Currently averaging 9.3 points per game, Thomas has led the Ducks in scoring twice this year including 16 points in last Saturday's loss at California.
MAJOR MINUTES
Sophomore Danielle Love is the one player head coach Paul Westhead can't take out of the game as she is playing a team-best 31.6 minutes per game.
The Everett, Wash., native has recorded three new career scoring highs this year, and is averaging 7.6 points and 5.8 rebounds 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 7.1 points per game, and leads the Ducks with 28 three-pointers after scoring 14 points and draining four three-pointers in last Saturday's loss at Cal.
RUNNING THE FLOOR
Freshman forward Lexi Petersen (Tukwila, Wash.) 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 10 games, and on Dec. 29 against Washington State posted a career-high three assists.
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 3.1 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 3.7 points per game, and is also second on the team with 37 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, receiving Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors.
Brenner is averaging 4.0 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in six appearances and three starts. The Portland, Ore., native posted career highs with seven points and eight rebounds at fourth-ranked Stanford last Thursday.
