Oregon women’s basketball (14-14, 6-10) hits the road for its final two games of the regular season this weekend. The Ducks will travel to Colorado on Thursday to take on the Buffaloes before heading to Utah for a Saturday night contest that will wrap up Pac-12 Conference play. @@http://pac-12.org/SPORTS/BasketballW/Standings.aspx@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&KEY=&SPID=236&SPSID=4304@@
The Ducks have reason to approach the matchups with optimism, as Oregon pulled out victories over both teams at home in early February. That being said, extra pressure is on Paul Westhead’s squad to pull out wins this time around, with the Pac-12 Tournament fast approaching and the Ducks running out of options for postseason play.
“Our team needs to win some games to kind of get ready for the playoffs,” Westhead said. “Not an easy trip. Not easy games. Talking to coaches who have been on that trip, they don’t say good things. They say it’s a hard road. So I know their win-loss record isn’t overall spectacular … but going there is a tough trek.”
Both Utah (13-14, 6-10) and Colorado (16-11, 5-11) sit in similar positions as Oregon: near the Pac-12 cellar. However, considering the change in elevation and significant mileage required to visit both venues, the Ducks aren’t taking anything for granted in a season that has been filled with considerable shortcomings, especially in late-game situations during close contests.
“(Finishing games) has been mentioned, both by our captains and by our coaches,” freshman forward Lexi Petersen said. “We’ve struggled playing a 40-minute game all year. I think now we’re more focused and we can do it this weekend.”
Senior forward Amanda Johnson also expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s inability to close the door on opponents in crunch time. Considering that this weekend’s games could potentially be the last of her career, Johnson said it’s her hatred of losing — more than the sweet taste of victory — that’s keeping her competitive fire burning.
“It’s frustrating when we prove that we can hang with (a team), if not beat them, and then we give it away in some ways,” Johnson said. “Not wanting to leave the court with that feeling is almost more motivating than trying to wrap it up all nicely.”
A key factor in both games will be which team dictates the pace of play. Although Oregon has had relative success with its fastbreak attack this season (the Ducks are 2nd in the Pac-12 in scoring with 72.6 points per game), the team has struggled to push the ball in recent matchups, resulting in poor offensive showings versus Stanford (46 points, 25 percent shooting) and Oregon State (53 points, 24.6 percent shooting). @@http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/wbasketball/2011-12-Stats/HTML/CONFLDRS.HTM@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=236&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205382591@@ @@http://www.goducks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPID=236&DB_OEM_ID=500&ATCLID=205386784@@
Westhead said that oftentimes it falls on the players to be highly conscious of the pace of play. After the Ducks’ loss to the Beavers, the team’ three seniors — point guard Nia Jackson and forwards Johnson and Jasmin Holliday — admitted that the team had pushed the ball early on but failed to put pressure on the defense late. @@http://www.goducks.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=500&SPID=236&SPSID=4305@@
“Running can really help us,” Westhead said. “It’s just a question of who blows the whistle, or does anybody? Or does it just seem to not repeat itself.”
The other factor in the team’s struggle for buckets? In Westhead’s mind, the Ducks have constantly been snake-bitten with uncharacteristically poor shooting in close games.
“I think the one thing that the team has not done — more than just occasionally — is they haven’t shot the ball well,” Westhead said. “It’s interesting. I don’t know what it comes down to. But I see the end result. When it’s not going well you could say it’s confidence; you could say they’re in the wrong position. Too many inside shots, too many outside shots — you could spin it any way you want.”
On defense, the Ducks will be preparing for two contrasting attacks. Against Colorado, the Ducks will focus on the well-rounded game of junior guard Chucky Jeffery, who’s averaging 15.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the Buffaloes. Last time the two teams played, in Eugene Feb. 4, Jeffery totaled 18 points, four rebounds, seven assists and six steals in a 67-62 loss for the Buffaloes. @@http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/wbasketball/2011-12-Stats/HTML/CONFLDRS.HTM@@ @@https://www.nmnathletics.com//pdf8/822137.pdf?ATCLID=205374249&SPSID=4307&SPID=236&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
In Utah, the team will face a multifaceted attack centered on sophomore forward Michelle Plouffe, who leads the team with 13.8 points per game. The 6-foot-4 Plouffe also grabs 7.9 boards per contest while shooting 33 percent from three-point range. Fellow sophomore forward Taryn Wicijowski, who stands 6-foot-3, will join Plouffe down low for the Utes. She’s averaging 13.1 boards and 8.4 rebounds per game so far this season. The glue on offense for Utah is senior guard Janita Badon, who leads the league with 5.7 assists per game. @@http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/wbasketball/2011-12-Stats/HTML/UTAH.HTM@@ @@http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/utah-w-baskbl-mtt.html@@
The Utes prefer a slow style of play, averaging only 59.0 points per game and holding opponents to 56.1 points per contest (third in the Pac-12). No matter what the scores are, Westhead said he’d be happy if the Ducks could emerge from this weekend with two wins.
“These are almost like survival games,” Westhead said. “I think teams play these two clubs and they say, ‘Hey, if we can win 39-18 or 109-108 we’d be happy.’ It’s not like we’re gonna go there and blow through.”