Oregon Women’s Basketball: Oregon Puts Away #14 Arizona In Convincing Fashion, 73-59

One couldn’t go into tonight’s sport being terribly optimistic about Oregon’s possibilities in opposition to a top-15 staff, not after they went 1-9 in opposition to (for a lot of February) lesser opponents. When the Wildcats pulled out forward by the top of the first quarter, you can be excused for pondering “I assume right here we go once more.” The sensation of déjà vu was unavoidable.

Nicely, the Geese threw apart their inconsistencies and the shortcoming to attain, and performed their finest offensive and defensive sport this season, sending the Arizona Wildcats out of MKA with a L.

Right here we didn’t go once more.

With Grace VanSlooten out for not less than this weekend with an ankle damage, Taya Hanson picked up the nod for her first begin of the season.

The Geese had been energized on protection for your entire 40 minutes of this sport. Arizona had accomplished its homework and it was fairly clear that they wished to reap the benefits of Oregon within the paint, similar as nearly each different staff on this month of February had accomplished previous to tonight. Kennedy Bashman asserted herself within the paint from the tipoff, nevertheless, and disrupted the designs of the Wildcats offense with two blocks within the first quarter alone.

These blocks and one other block within the first quarter (a stunning block from Ahlise Hurst) compelled Arizona to depend on photographs from the sphere, and for awhile that was working for them.

After a number of lead adjustments within the first, Arizona held the lead in concerning the last 2 ¹⁄₂ minutes of the interval, ending with a one-point benefit, 18-19. Though the Geese left some photographs on the ground, the truth that Endyia Rogers was taking pictures 3-5 and Te-Hina Paopao was taking pictures 2-3 was encouraging. Additionally, Oregon was denying the Wildcats the paint – the Geese had 12 factors within the paint to 4 for Arizona.

Within the second interval, Oregon picked up the lead on the 8:07 mark off a 3-point shot from Likelihood Grey, taking the lead 21-19. Arizona responded by tying the sport at 21-all on the 7:02 mark.

The Wildcats then suffered a scoring drought. Whereas Oregon was not taking pictures lights-out, Arizona was hitting nothing and for awhile within the 2nd they had been taking pictures round Sep 11% for the quarter. The Geese capitalized and went on a 15-4 run, gaining a double digit lead, 36-25.

Arizona lastly put some buckets collectively on the finish of the half, and improved to 26.7% taking pictures within the 2nd quarter. Oregon, nevertheless, shot 58.8% and went into halftime with a 10-point lead, 40-30.

Coming into the third quarter, I used to be on the lookout for letup from Oregon; there have been many video games this season the place the Geese had been wanting strong on the half, solely to wilt within the third or fourth quarter and earn a disappointing loss.

Right here we didn’t go once more.

Arizona’s taking pictures woes adopted then into the third, guided by a spirited Oregon protection that might not let up. Halfway within the quarter, the Geese loved what can be their largest lead of the sport, up 16 at 49-33.

The Arizona protection started full court docket urgent Oregon very exhausting at this level, and whereas Oregon responded effectively, the Wildcats had been nonetheless at factors disruptive and closed the quarter down eight, 57-49.

Arizona would have narrowed the hole nearer had it not been for a Likelihood Grey shot from downtown to beat the buzzer.

At first of the fourth quarter, aided by the press and missed photographs by the Geese, the Wildcats began with a 6-0 run and pulled inside one, 57-56.

That’s as shut because the Wildcats would get. Arizona’s was not capable of finding the basket – taking pictures solely 13.33% within the 4th, largely as a consequence of Oregon’s defensive tenacity. In the meantime, the Geese hit sufficient photographs to get the job accomplished, and chewed up the clock after they wanted to, incomes the 14-point upset in what is definitely their finest win of the season.

Oregon’s protection restricted Arizona to 30.4% taking pictures on the sport. Cate Reese lead the Wildcats scorers with 19 factors, adopted by 10 factors from Madison Conner.

Oregon had a whole sport as a result of everybody that performed registered vital contributions to the result. Te-Hina Paopao lead all scorers with 21 factors, together with taking pictures 5-8 from past the arc. Endyia Rogers introduced in 18 factors and Likelihood Grey ended with 12 factors, all from past the arc. Phillipina Kyei simply missed a double-double with 9 factors and 14 boards. Kennedy Basham might have scored solely 4 factors, however her taking pictures was 100%, and she or he had three blocks within the sport. All of Oregon’s gamers ended with constructive numbers within the +/- column, and all of Arizona’s gamers ended with unfavourable numbers.

Paopao and Rogers additionally talked briefly after the sport:

That the Oregon Geese might shake off a disappointing February and dispatch an excellent Arizona staff in an encouraging signal that maybe they aren’t out of this but. The Geese can’t afford any stumbles, although, and might want to play as constantly on Saturday, in opposition to the Arizona State Solar Devils, as they did tonight.

The Oregon Geese host the ASU Wildcats on Saturday, 2/25/23, at 12:00 pm PT. The match will likely be televised on Pac-12 Oregon.