Hebard Powers Ducks to Thanksgiving Day Victory

Thursday, November 28

St. Thomas, VI

12:15 PM

University of Oregon

5-0

Oklahoma State

5-1

Oklahoma State

Oregon

11/28/19 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Oregon 89, OKST 72 Updated Season Stats

By: Nate Krueger

ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands – Senior Ruthy Hebard continued her dominant start to the 2019-20 season on Thursday afternoon, leading the No. 1 ranked Oregon women's basketball team to an 89-72 Thanksgiving Day win over Oklahoma State in the Ducks' first game of the Paradise Jam at the University of the Virgin Islands.

Hebard went 13-of-15 from the floor and led all players with 30 points while matching her career-high with 18 rebounds to power the Ducks, who improved to 5-0 to open the season. Sabrina Ionescu added 18 points with seven rebounds and six assists as she passed Jordin Canada (UCLA) as the Pac-12 all-time women's assist leader.

Oregon came out firing in the opening quarter and raced out to a commanding 34-13 lead, but Oklahoma State (5-1) outscored the Ducks in each of the next three quarters in the first of three games in three days for the nation's top-ranked team.

"I'm actually a little disappointed," said head coach Kelly Graves. "As good as we were early, we could never really get that magic back and it started at the defensive end. I don't think we defended very well or very smart, so thank goodness Ruthy had a big night like that.

"It was not our best, but we still beat a really good team. They played hard and I give Oklahoma State credit, they never quit and they continued to play hard and made it a game."

How it Happened: The Ducks needed less than two minutes to take a 10-0 advantage, fueled by four points from Hebard and a pair of three-pointers from Ionescu and Minyon Moore. A three by Erin Boley and a lay-in by Moore made it 26-11 with two minutes left in the period, and both Satou Sabally and Ionescu made triples sandwiched around a Hebard bucket to give Oregon a 21-point lead after the first 10 minutes.

Hebard was unstoppable all night, but especially early on as she posted 12 points and 10 rebounds for a first-quarter double-double, her fifth straight to open her senior season. Ionescu dished out four assists in the first quarter, moving her past Canada's previous Pac-12 assist record of 831.

The Ducks cooled down considerably in the second quarter, going just 6-of-20 from the field and getting outscored 14-13. Oregon took a 47-27 lead into the break after Sabally scored on a lay-in with 25 seconds remaining.

A triple by Boley and a three-point play by Sabally made it 53-29 early in the third, and Ionescu drilled a three with 6:28 left to give Oregon its biggest lead of the night at 60-31. A pair of buckets by Hebard made it 67-42 before the Cowgirls went on an 8-2 run to close the quarter.

Oklahoma State fought back to within 14 with 5:34 left in the game, but Ionescu drained her fourth three-pointer and Hebard followed with three straight buckets in the paint to get Oregon's lead back over 20. The Cowgirls once again made it a 14-point game in the final minute before Moore converted a three-point play with two seconds remaining.

Who Stood Out: Hebard posted her fifth straight double-double and the 44th of her career while reaching the 30-point mark for the second time this season. Ionescu went 7-of-15 from the floor while scoring in double figures for the 76th straight game, and both Moore (14) and Boley (12) finished with double-digit points as well. Sabally added eight points, and freshman Jaz Shelley contributed five off the bench. Moore also dished out six assists to match Ionescu for the team lead.

Notable: Having broken the women's all-time record, Ionescu now has her sights set on the Pac-12 all-time assist record for both men and women of 938 held by Gary Payton … With four three-pointers, Ionescu now needs three more to pass Lexi Bando (283) as the Oregon all-time leader … Ionescu recorded the 107th double-figure scoring game of her career, putting her one shy of matching the UO all-time record (Allison Lang), and Hebard posted the 99th of her career … Moore scored in double figures for the first time as a Duck … Oregon finished the game shooting 46.1 percent from the field after shooting 59.1 percent in the opening quarter ... Thursday's win marked the 800th victory in program history.

Up Next: The Ducks will continue action at the Paradise Jam on Friday against UT Arlington at 12:15 PM PT (FloHoops).