University of Oregon
23-10
Utah
18-15
Bando's 34 Points Propel Ducks to Next Round of WNIT
03/24/16 | Women's Basketball
EUGENE, Ore. – Sophomore Lexi Bando poured in 34 points as the Ducks defeated Utah for the third time this year, winning 73-63 in the third round of the WNIT Wednesday night at Matthew Knight Arena.
HOW IT HAPPENED: UO (23-10) overcame a slow start as Utah (18-15) opened up the game on an 11-2 run forcing a Duck timeout. Oregon responded as it went on a 7-0 run to cut the lead to two with 4:21 left in the first quarter. During the run, Lexi Bando hit her first of six three-pointers on the night as the Utes couldn't find an answer for the sophomore guard.
Down 19-15 at the quarter break, Bando sunk another three to open the second quarter and pulled the Ducks within one. A Liz Brenner basket and then a pull-up jumper by Bando gave the UO its first lead of the game at the 7:43 mark. From there, the two teams would go back and forth until Bando scored the last seven points of the quarter, giving the Ducks the 32-29 halftime lead.
Jacinta Vandenberg put the Ducks up five with a lay-up to start the third quarter. However, Utah's Emily Potter would keep the game within striking distance as the 6'6 forward had 11 of her team-high 21 points after halftime.
Lexi Petersen nailed a three to put Oregon up 44-40 with 3:37 left in the third quarter and on the next possession Bando added three more when she drove the entire length of the court for an and-1 play. The converted free throw gave Oregon its largest lead of the game at seven points.
Two free-throws from Potter with 20 seconds to go pulled Utah within two, but in fitting fashion, Bando drained a three from the right wing to put the Ducks back up by five at the break.
The Utes never got closer than seven points in the final quarter as Oregon outscored them 17-12 in the final 10 minutes. A tip-in from Tanaeya Boclair cut the lead to 60-53 with 7:04 to play, but a step-through lay-up from Lauren Yearwood and a three from Bando extended the lead to double-digits.
Maite Cazorla sunk a three from the top of the key at the 2:03 mark, giving the Ducks a 15-point lead. Utah was able to score the final five points of the game to cut the score down to 10.
WHO STOOD OUT: Lexi Bando's 34 points were one-off her career-high of 35, which she had against San Jose State earlier this season. She was 11-for-22 from the field and 6-for-11 from three-point range. Lexi Petersen added 14 points and Maita Cazorla scored 13 while logging nine assists. The Ducks held Utah to just 38 percent shooting, including 3-for-23 from three.
UP NEXT: The Ducks will face the winner of TCU and UTEP in the quarterfinal round of the WNIT. Game day, time and location will not be decided until those two teams play Thursday night in El Paso, Texas. Stay tuned to GoDucks.com and @OregonWBB on twitter for updates.
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