Tuesday, October 20
Eugene, OR
6 p.m.
University of Oregon
vs
Bushnell
Photo by: GoDucks.com
10/20/26 | Women's Basketball
Senior transfer Mallory Heyer will return to the court after a year off when the UO women host Bushnell in an exhibition Tuesday.
EUGENE, Ore. — When Mallory Heyer opted to transfer before her senior season, she found herself in an unfamiliar position: watching basketball from the bench.
Heyer arrived at Oregon last December, early in what was a redshirt season following her transfer from Minnesota. She had started 102 games in her three seasons with the Golden Gophers. So taking in games from a courtside chair was a rare occurrence, something she hadn't experienced since … well, she's not exactly sure.
"I honestly couldn't tell you the last time," Heyer said last week, after a preseason practice with the UO women. "I played a lot in high school. Knock on wood, I've been healthy. Yeah, I've been able to play a lot my whole career."
This week, Heyer resumes that familiar position of actually playing in games, rather than watching them. Heyer and the Ducks host an exhibition game against Bushnell in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m., less than two weeks before opening the regular season by hosting Hawai'i on Nov. 2.
"It was cool to be able to see the game from a different perspective, and it just made me step back and think about how much I really love playing," said Heyer, a 6-foot-1 forward from Chaska, Minn. "Definitely at times I was like, I really want to go get that board or help the team out in certain ways. But I knew my time was going to be this year."
For both Heyer and the Ducks, the timing is just right. Heyer gets the chance to return to playing the game she loves, having had a year to learn her teammates' tendencies and the system under head coach Kelly Graves. And for Oregon, Heyer provides a replacement for departed senior Mia Jacobs and a welcome complement to returning forward Ehis Etute.
"She can really fill it up, so she can stretch the defense, and she's a really good rebounder," Graves said. "… We're gonna have to rebound by committee; Mallory's going to have to be one of those key contributors there. I think she's capable of getting double-digit rebounds — she did against us when we played her."
Indeed, during Oregon's first season in the Big Ten, two years ago, the Ducks pulled out a 76-70 win at Minnesota. Heyer had 14 rebounds and also made a trio of three-pointers that day.
As Graves said, she can really fill it up, and she's a really good rebounder.
That gives the Ducks a couple of versatile players on the front line. Etute hasn't been a three-point threat through two seasons at Oregon, but she can hit from the midrange or drive the lane, and she's a powerful post presence.
"She can play inside and outside, and I feel like I can do that too," Heyer said. "So being just being able to play that high-low game, there will be kick-out opportunities and stuff like that. So we'll be able to play off each other, and I'm sure we're going to grow even more as the season continues."
Heyer could slide into the lineup in place of Jacobs, another versatile forward who transferred to Oregon to play as a senior. The two became friends over the course of last season, and their games are similar, if not exactly the same.
"She's a little more of a driver than me," Heyer said. "I'd say I like to be in the paint a little bit more, a little more of a post presence. And then I also love to cut to the basket too. And rebounding is a huge part of my game, so we're similar."
For the past year, the Ducks have gotten a sense for what Heyer will be able to provide when she finally returns to the court. Starting Tuesday, Oregon's fans will get to see as well.
"Obviously I got to practice last year, so it isn't like I haven't played in so long," Heyer said. "But to get out in front of fans is going to be fun, and to actually play in kind of a real game is going to be fun."
Heyer arrived at Oregon last December, early in what was a redshirt season following her transfer from Minnesota. She had started 102 games in her three seasons with the Golden Gophers. So taking in games from a courtside chair was a rare occurrence, something she hadn't experienced since … well, she's not exactly sure.
"I honestly couldn't tell you the last time," Heyer said last week, after a preseason practice with the UO women. "I played a lot in high school. Knock on wood, I've been healthy. Yeah, I've been able to play a lot my whole career."
This week, Heyer resumes that familiar position of actually playing in games, rather than watching them. Heyer and the Ducks host an exhibition game against Bushnell in Matthew Knight Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m., less than two weeks before opening the regular season by hosting Hawai'i on Nov. 2.
"It was cool to be able to see the game from a different perspective, and it just made me step back and think about how much I really love playing," said Heyer, a 6-foot-1 forward from Chaska, Minn. "Definitely at times I was like, I really want to go get that board or help the team out in certain ways. But I knew my time was going to be this year."
For both Heyer and the Ducks, the timing is just right. Heyer gets the chance to return to playing the game she loves, having had a year to learn her teammates' tendencies and the system under head coach Kelly Graves. And for Oregon, Heyer provides a replacement for departed senior Mia Jacobs and a welcome complement to returning forward Ehis Etute.
"She can really fill it up, so she can stretch the defense, and she's a really good rebounder," Graves said. "… We're gonna have to rebound by committee; Mallory's going to have to be one of those key contributors there. I think she's capable of getting double-digit rebounds — she did against us when we played her."
Indeed, during Oregon's first season in the Big Ten, two years ago, the Ducks pulled out a 76-70 win at Minnesota. Heyer had 14 rebounds and also made a trio of three-pointers that day.
As Graves said, she can really fill it up, and she's a really good rebounder.
That gives the Ducks a couple of versatile players on the front line. Etute hasn't been a three-point threat through two seasons at Oregon, but she can hit from the midrange or drive the lane, and she's a powerful post presence.
"She can play inside and outside, and I feel like I can do that too," Heyer said. "So being just being able to play that high-low game, there will be kick-out opportunities and stuff like that. So we'll be able to play off each other, and I'm sure we're going to grow even more as the season continues."
Heyer could slide into the lineup in place of Jacobs, another versatile forward who transferred to Oregon to play as a senior. The two became friends over the course of last season, and their games are similar, if not exactly the same.
"She's a little more of a driver than me," Heyer said. "I'd say I like to be in the paint a little bit more, a little more of a post presence. And then I also love to cut to the basket too. And rebounding is a huge part of my game, so we're similar."
For the past year, the Ducks have gotten a sense for what Heyer will be able to provide when she finally returns to the court. Starting Tuesday, Oregon's fans will get to see as well.
"Obviously I got to practice last year, so it isn't like I haven't played in so long," Heyer said. "But to get out in front of fans is going to be fun, and to actually play in kind of a real game is going to be fun."
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