Oregon WBB Weekly Release: USC
01/17/12 | Women's Basketball
Oregon at USC LIVE COVERAGE
• Date: Thursday, Jan. 19
• Time: 7:00 PM
• Venue: Galen Center
• TV: None
• Radio: KUGN 590 AM in Eugene/Springfield; Terry Jonz, play-by-play
• Webcast: SCTV at www.usctrojans.com
• Live Audio: O-Zone • Live Stats: www.GoDucks.com
• Twitter: @OregonWBB for in-game updates, stats, etc
• Facebook
• vs. USC: USC leads 39-17
Tickets: www.GoDucks.com
GAME DAY PROMOTIONS
Utah, Feb. 2 - Karaoke Night
BI-MART Buy One, Get One Free: Show your BI-MART card at the ticket window and get a free GA ticket for the Stanford game on Feb. 18.
Colorado, Feb. 2 - Youth Day & National Girls & Women in Sports Day
Youth $1GA & Adults $3GA! Pregame fan-fest/autograph signing with the Oregon women's teams. Postgame autographs with the UO women's hoops team.
THIS WEEK
Oregon (10-8, 2-4) heads to Los Angeles this week in search of its first road win of the season. The Ducks will visit the Galen Center at 7 p.m., Thursday to play USC (9-6, 4-1) before taking on UCLA (7-9, 2-3) at the John Wooden Center at 1 p.m., 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. Students will receive vouchers at the end of the game.
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.
USC NOTES
• USC holds a 39-17 advantage in the all-time series against Oregon, and currently the Trojans have won the last four games between the two programs. Oregon is 6-23 in the all-time series in Los Angeles, and has won just once at the Galen Center, 85-77, on Jan. 30, 2010.
In that game, Taylor Lilley scored 36 points and set the Oregon single-game record with nine three-pointers.
• The Trojans opened Pac-12 play with a 61-53 loss to Stanford, but have recovered to win their last four games with victories over California, Arizona State, Arizona and UCLA.
• USC has three players averaging double figures led by Ashley Corral's 12.5 points per game. Corral also leads the Pac-12 averaging 2.7 three-pointers per game.
• In conference play, USC ranks second in the league holding opponents to 54.6 points per game, and the Trojans also lead the league holding Pac-12 opponents to a .325 shooting percentage.
• During the Paul Westhead era, Oregon has averaged 76.8 points per game against USC in five meetings. The Trojans have averaged 81.6 points per game against the Ducks as head coach Michael Cooper is also in his third year at USC. Four of the five games have been decided by 10 points or less, including three games by less than four points.
LAST TIME OUT
The University of Oregon women's basketball team fell to Arizona State, 53-49, on Saturday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena.
The game came down to the wire as the Ducks (10-8, 2-4) fell behind in the second half and spent much of the final 20 minutes battling to get ahead.
Nia Jackson was fouled with 20 seconds to play and made the layup and the free throw to notch the three-point play, bringing the score to 50-49.
Kali Bennett was immediately fouled on the other end of the court and missed the first, but made the second free throw. With one chance left for Oregon, Deanna Weaver made a move to the basket for the Ducks and had her shot blocked by Bennett, ending UO's chance for the win.
Senior Jasmin Holliday led the Ducks with her sixth double-double of the year, leading Oregon in points (12) and rebounds (11).
Oregon shot 30.4 percent (17-of-56) from the floor, and held Arizona State to .277 clip (18-of-65). The Sun Devils held a 52-38 rebounding advantage, and scored 17 second-chance points compared to four for Oregon.
Game Notes: Oregon's 17 first-half points were a season low, and the second lowest point total scored in a half during the Westhead era... Liz Brenner recorded four blocks - a season high for any Oregon player this year...Oregon held the Sun Devils to 53 points - the previous opponent low was 71 points vs. Portland State...opponent season lows also included 18 ASU field goals made, a .277 shooting percentage and 16 first-half points.
ASU BRINGS FIRSTS
The Arizona State loss brought a series of firsts for Oregon this season. The Ducks lost for the first time when leading at the half, as well as recording a higher shooting percentage than their opponent.
NATIONAL TOP 25
Oregon currently ranks second in the Pac-12 and 16th in the nation averaging 76.3 points per game. Notre Dame leads the country scoring 83.7 points per game.
The Ducks' 7.8 three-pointers per game lead the Pac-12 and rank 10th in the nation, while UO's 11.3 steals per game lead the league and rank 36th in the country.
REBOUNDING GAME
When Oregon has outrebounded its opponent this season, the Ducks have a 6-1 record, scoring 83.4 points per game, and averaging 71.6 field goal attempts per game.
When Oregon is outrebounded, the Ducks are 4-6 and average just 72.2 points per game and attempt 68.4 field goal attempts per game.
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 76.3 points per game (2nd Pac-12) with the absence of Amanda Johnson for the last nine 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 five wins by 10 points or more. The Ducks have also posted a 4-2 record in games decided by four points or less.
• Oregon's roster has totaled 57 occasions of players scoring in double figures led by Jasmin Holliday (15).
• The Ducks have also posted 11 double-figure rebounding efforts led by Amanda Johnson (6).
• Oregon has recorded six games with 10 or more three-pointers.
FRESHMAN FIX
Oregon currently has six freshmen on its roster, with five eligible to play after Janitah Iamaleava suffered a season-ending knee injury in pre-season practice.
Freshman Jordan Loera leads the class in scoring (7.5 ppg) and also leads the entire team with 33 three-pointers on the season.
TREY TROUBLE
On nine 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 178 long-distance shots as opponents are shooting 36.6 percent from 3-point range.
In the last 13 games, an opponent has had an individual player knock down at least five three-pointers on 11 occasions.
SENIOR TRIO
Currently all three Oregon seniors rank in the conference's currently active top-15 scorers: Amanda Johnson (1,327, 5th), Nia Jackson (921, 10th) and Jasmin Holliday (834, 13th).
Johsnon's 797 career rebounds rank second among active Pac-12 players, followed by Holliday's 606 career boards ranking sixth.
Johnson's 142 three-pointers rank third, while Jackson's 320 assists rank second.
All three list in the steals category as Jackson's 185 steals rank third followed by Johnson at fifth with 178 and Holliday at sixth with 172.
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 15.0 points per game. Holliday has led Oregon in scoring on six occasions, and has led the Ducks on the boards a team-best nine times.
She leads the team with 15 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 four double-doubles.
In last Thursday's 87-73 win over Arizona, Holliday scored all 16 of her points in the first half, and recorded a new career-best four three-pointers.
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 9.6 points and a team-leading 3.6 assists per game. Jackson's 185 career steals rank fifth all-time at Oregon, and her 320 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 season at Nevada on Dec. 14. She scored a career-high 18 points in the loss.
Weaver is currently averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds 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 9.5 points per game, Thomas has led the Ducks in scoring twice this year.
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 31.8 minutes per game.
The Everett, Wash., native has recorded three new career scoring highs this year, and is averaging 7.5 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 7.5 points per game, and leads the Ducks with 33 three-pointers.
Loera has the chance to become the first freshman to lead UO in three-pointers since Taylor Lilley tied with Carolyn Ganes for the team lead (39) during the 2006-07 season.
RUNNING THE FLOOR
With Nia Jackson battling knee trouble, Lexi Petersen's speed has been put to good use at the point guard position. In last Thursday's 87-73 victory over Arizona, Petersen scored a career-high 17 points and led the Ducks in scoring for the first time this year. She is averaging 5.4 points per game.
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 4.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. The Portland, Ore., native led Oregon in rebounding for the second time last Thursday night with a career-best 11 rebounds.
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.
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 3.4 points per game, and is also second on the team with 41 assists.
