Sunday, December 2
Eugene, OR
2:00 PM
University of Oregon
110
vs
48
Long Beach State
1
2
3
4
F
Long Beach St.
16
4
15
13
48
Oregon
24
26
32
28
110
Photo by: @EricEvansPhoto
Ionescu Sets Assist Record In Victory
12/02/18 | Women's Basketball
Junior Sabrina Ionescu had 17 assists Sunday in Oregon's 110-48 victory over visiting Long Beach State.
EUGENE, Ore. — Erin Boley scored a career-high 24 points and Sabrina Ionescu dished out a school-record 17 assists as the No. 3 Oregon women's basketball team beat Long Beach State on Sunday, 110-48, before 5,118 fans in Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks (7-0) limited the Beach to .345 shooting and forced 18 turnovers, the sort of defensive performance they wanted to see before heading out on the road next week to face Michigan State and South Dakota State.
"Tonight was a huge step forward for us defensively," Ionescu said. "This whole week of practice that's what we've been focusing on — getting in passing lanes, getting stops, using our length."
How It Happened: Head coach Kelly Graves wanted to see the Ducks build some momentum for the upcoming road trip, and they wasted little time doing so. Ionescu got the day started with a three-pointer, and Satou Sabally scored seven points during an 11-0 run to a 22-7 lead.
Oregon then scored 14 straight to open the second quarter, and made a big statement about the focus at the defensive end. Long Beach State (1-7) scored only four points in the quarter, on 2-of-12 shooting, and was hounded into eight turnovers. Boley hit back-to-back three-pointers to cap the 14-0 run, and had 14 points as the Ducks took a 50-20 lead into halftime.
The Ducks scored another nine in a row to open the second half, capped by a Sabally three-pointer. Ionescu's assist on that basket was her 10th of the game already, and she ended up with nine in the third quarter alone, on 12 field goals by the Ducks. Maite Cazorla hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 78-33 lead, and the Ducks ultimately led by as much as 64, the last time at 110-46 on a layup by birthday girl Lydia Giomi.
Who Stood Out: Boley's 24 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-10 from three-point range. Sabally and Cazorla scored 18 apiece, and Ruthy Hebard added a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Ionescu scored 12 and broke the school assists record of 14 that had been achieved four times — twice by Ionescu herself last season, once by Corrie Mizusawa in 2003 and once by Vanessa Selden in 1990.
What It Means: The Ducks already knew their offense was elite, and showed it again Sunday. But they wanted to get their defense closer to that level as well, and made a step in that direction with the shutdown second quarter.
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On Ionescu's seeming determination to set the assists record Sunday
"I honestly think she does that kind of stuff. It was really impressive. She was hunting them, too. I thought that made the team better. Because the team knew, and they were working to be in the right position."
On taking care of business against a struggling team
"Really played with great effort. Sometimes these games are tough, because we're going into finals starting tomorrow. I think we were the better team; I'm always honest with our team. But I thought we came out prepared, we came out with focus, we came out with intensity and I thought we were focused throughout the game. As a coach, that pleases me."
Junior guard Sabrina Ionescu
On Graves suggesting she set out to break the assists record
"I honestly didn't even know I broke it until (sports information director) Joe (Waltasti) told me after the game. But my teammates hit shots."
Notable: Guard Morgan Yaeger sat out due to a back injury that Graves said doesn't seem serious. … Ionescu had just two turnovers to go along with her 17 assists. … Boley has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. … Hebard record her second double-double of the season.
Up Next: After a break for final exams, the Ducks play Dec. 9 at Michigan State (noon, ESPN2).
The Ducks (7-0) limited the Beach to .345 shooting and forced 18 turnovers, the sort of defensive performance they wanted to see before heading out on the road next week to face Michigan State and South Dakota State.
"Tonight was a huge step forward for us defensively," Ionescu said. "This whole week of practice that's what we've been focusing on — getting in passing lanes, getting stops, using our length."
How It Happened: Head coach Kelly Graves wanted to see the Ducks build some momentum for the upcoming road trip, and they wasted little time doing so. Ionescu got the day started with a three-pointer, and Satou Sabally scored seven points during an 11-0 run to a 22-7 lead.
Oregon then scored 14 straight to open the second quarter, and made a big statement about the focus at the defensive end. Long Beach State (1-7) scored only four points in the quarter, on 2-of-12 shooting, and was hounded into eight turnovers. Boley hit back-to-back three-pointers to cap the 14-0 run, and had 14 points as the Ducks took a 50-20 lead into halftime.
The Ducks scored another nine in a row to open the second half, capped by a Sabally three-pointer. Ionescu's assist on that basket was her 10th of the game already, and she ended up with nine in the third quarter alone, on 12 field goals by the Ducks. Maite Cazorla hit back-to-back three-pointers for a 78-33 lead, and the Ducks ultimately led by as much as 64, the last time at 110-46 on a layup by birthday girl Lydia Giomi.
Who Stood Out: Boley's 24 points came on 9-of-16 shooting, including 4-of-10 from three-point range. Sabally and Cazorla scored 18 apiece, and Ruthy Hebard added a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Ionescu scored 12 and broke the school assists record of 14 that had been achieved four times — twice by Ionescu herself last season, once by Corrie Mizusawa in 2003 and once by Vanessa Selden in 1990.
What It Means: The Ducks already knew their offense was elite, and showed it again Sunday. But they wanted to get their defense closer to that level as well, and made a step in that direction with the shutdown second quarter.
Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On Ionescu's seeming determination to set the assists record Sunday
"I honestly think she does that kind of stuff. It was really impressive. She was hunting them, too. I thought that made the team better. Because the team knew, and they were working to be in the right position."
On taking care of business against a struggling team
"Really played with great effort. Sometimes these games are tough, because we're going into finals starting tomorrow. I think we were the better team; I'm always honest with our team. But I thought we came out prepared, we came out with focus, we came out with intensity and I thought we were focused throughout the game. As a coach, that pleases me."
Junior guard Sabrina Ionescu
On Graves suggesting she set out to break the assists record
"I honestly didn't even know I broke it until (sports information director) Joe (Waltasti) told me after the game. But my teammates hit shots."
Notable: Guard Morgan Yaeger sat out due to a back injury that Graves said doesn't seem serious. … Ionescu had just two turnovers to go along with her 17 assists. … Boley has scored in double figures in all but one game this season. … Hebard record her second double-double of the season.
Up Next: After a break for final exams, the Ducks play Dec. 9 at Michigan State (noon, ESPN2).
Team Stats
F-99
F-529
FG%
.345
.609
3FG%
.138
.448
FT%
.571
.929
RB
20
41
TO
18
8
STL
5
10
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
24
FGM
9
3FGM
4
FTM
2
Pts
19
FGM
8
3FGM
0
FTM
3
Pts
18
FGM
6
3FGM
2
FTM
4
Pts
18
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's Basketball
F
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballF
/ Women's Basketball
G
/ Women's BasketballKelly Graves | Selection Sunday
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Deja Kelly, Peyton Scott & Phillipina Kyei | Selection Sunday
Monday, March 17
Peyton Scott & Ari Long: "A good, competitive basketball game."
Thursday, February 27
Kelly Graves: "We've played really well."
Thursday, February 27
