UO Women Open Homestand With A Win

Wednesday, January 15

Eugene, OR

6 p.m.

University of Oregon

13-5,4-3Big Ten

Purdue

7-10,0-6Big Ten

Purdue

Oregon

Photo by: Rob Moseley/GoDucks.com

01/15/25 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score: Oregon 69, Purdue 53 Photo Gallery

The Ducks beat Purdue on Wednesday, and will host Iowa on Sunday afternoon.

By: Rob Moseley

EUGENE, Ore. — A long week on the road wasn't long enough for the Oregon women to forget how to capitalize on homecourt advantage.

Fresh off a split road trip to the Midwest, the UO women returned to Matthew Knight Arena and improved to 11-1 at home this season with a 69-53 victory Wednesday over Purdue. The Ducks (13-5, 4-3 Big Ten) will try to win their fifth straight at home when they host Iowa on Sunday, part of a critical three-game homestand for Oregon.

"It's huge," senior Deja Kelly said after leading the UO women Wednesday with 15 points. "For us to be back at home in front of our home crowd, every win in this league matters because of how tough it is. And we're going to get to a tougher side of our schedule, so for us to take these home wins, use homecourt advantage, it's huge. We got one today, and we have a big one Sunday."

Kelly's fellow seniors Peyton Scott and Phillipina Kyei each added 12 points for the Ducks on Wednesday. Oregon wasn't always in rhythm against the Boilermakers, posting just six assists in the first half, but the seniors filled the scoring void.

"We just weren't that fluid tonight offensively," UO coach Kelly Graves said. "So it was nice that those guys stepped up. They should, which was good. Scotty got us off to a great start, and then Philly's coming — she's become more and more of a factor, especially at the defensive end too."

How It Happened: As the Ducks struggled to find their rhythm, Purdue got out to an early lead, going up 9-4 in the opening minutes. But Nani Falatea had five points during an 11-2 run by Oregon to close the opening period, in which Scott scored eight points to help the Ducks out to a 15-11 lead. The UO women hounded Purdue into nine turnovers in the period, on the way to 23 in the game.

Falatea hit her second three-pointer early in the second quarter for a 20-14 lead. Kelly scored twice during an 8-1 run that got Oregon's lead out to 32-20, and a three-pointer by Sofia Bell got the lead back to a dozen at halftime, 35-23.

"We've struggled a couple times in the second quarter in conference, and this was a really good second quarter," Graves said. "Kind of flipped the tables a little bit."

The Boilermakers closed the gap early in the third, getting within 41-34. But Kyei and Kelly each scored twice during an 11-2 Oregon run to close the period, which Elisa Mevius capped with a bucket that made it 52-36.

Two free throws from Sarah Rambus early in the fourth gave Oregon its biggest lead of the night, 56-36. Purdue fought back within 12 at 61-49, but Ari Long ended that rally with a three-pointer and the Ducks finished off the win.

Notable: Falatea had eight points with two three-pointers before leaving with an ankle injury late in the first half. Graves said it didn't appear to be serious. … Katie Fiso rejoined the team following a family matter. She missed her second straight game but was on the bench with her teammates. … The Ducks made at least five three-pointers for the second time in their last six games.

Up Next: The Ducks host Iowa on Sunday (2 p.m., B1G+).