After Jillian Alleyne’s double-double streak ended last season, Oregon women’s basketball head coach Kelly Graves said he thought she was feeling some pressure to keep it going. He said Alleyne could start a new one, no big deal.
That’s exactly what she did.
It was 21 straight last season. This season, it’s 24 and counting.
Alleyne had 15 points and 11 rebounds against Portland. The Ducks won 93-52 in business-like fashion, extending their undefeated start to 8-0.
It’s different this year for Alleyne, who remains the team’s standout, but now has depth around her. The Ducks had 10 different players score against Portland.
“It’s a great feeling, having players that can come in and score and really give us something every minute of the game. It’s huge,” Alleyne said.
Alleyne, now rewriting her own double-double streak, was honored before the game. In Oregon’s home-opener against Hampton, Alleyne became the school’s career rebounding leader. Former record holder Bev Smith was on hand to present her with a basketball, and Smith could soon be back for another pregame ceremony.
Alleyne now has 77 career double-doubles; Smith owns the UO record with 88. Alleyne’s current run is the third-best in NCAA history.
“Going into the game, my mindset isn’t double-double,” Alleyne said. “It’s getting done what the team needs me to do. … Every night I’m going to produce, but it’s nice to know that we have players that can step up, whether they’re starters or coming off the bench. We’re all one team.”
Alleyne has said the personnel around her this year is unlike anything she’s had in the past. It’s the reason she played just 10 second-half minutes, but the team still managed to outscore the Pilots 48-23 after intermission.
She’s quickly closing in on the Pac-12 rebounding record of 1,567, held by former Stanford star Chiney Ogwumike. Alleyne needs 115 boards to pass Ogwumike.
Alleyne has also been more efficient on offense. So far this year, she’s shooting 65.3 percent from the field, up from last year’s mark of 57.6 percent and an even bigger jump from 45.1 percent her freshman year.
“To know that we have players that can come in and step up to the plate, that’s a great feeling,” Alleyne said. “Having depth will take us very far.”
What’s the expectation for this team? Before the season started, Alleyne said the team’s goal is to make the NCAA Tournament. Her supporting cast appears to be growing, which will undoubtedly take more pressure of Alleyne. For instance, freshman Maite Cazorla had a career-high 18 points against Portland.
“I don’t think she’s feeling any pressure,” Graves. “We’re putting less and less on her. We’re not running every play for her.”
Graves said the depth so far this season has allowed the team to substitute during the game more freely and has relieved the pressure on some of the team’s standouts, including Alleyne.
“She’s a real team player,” Graves said. “She defers a lot to the team. She doesn’t seek the limelight. I think she’s still a little embarrassed by some of the attention that she gets.
“That’s a good thing. She’s truly a humble, humble player.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
With a larger supporting cast, Oregon’s Jillian Alleyne feels less pressure on the court
Jonathan Hawthorne
December 11, 2015
After Jillian Alleyne’s double-double streak ended last season, Oregon women’s basketball head coach Kelly Graves said he thought she was feeling some pressure to keep it going. He said Alleyne could start a new one, no big deal. That’s exactly what she did. It was 21 straight last season. This season, it’s …
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