It’s been a season of hard lessons for the Oregon women’s basketball team.
The Ducks learned that confidence can be fragile, along with knees and ankles. They learned that no matter how hard you try, it’s hard to be a go-to player. They found out that opponents love to kick you when you’re down.
But the latest lesson learned has been the most valuable: Having a conference-leading record isn’t the only characteristic of a true champion.
For the third time in three home games, the relentless Oregon women downed a Pacific-10 Conference foe that is bound for the NCAA tournament. This time, the prey was Arizona, which fell 83-78.
The Ducks won convincingly, not trailing once in the final 10 minutes of play. Junior guard Jamie Craighead swish ed three-pointers, building her single-season school record to 75 treys. Senior center Jenny Mowe, who dominated the paint early, sank a short jumper. And senior forward Angelina Wolvert hit all kinds of shots.
Point guard Alissa Edwards dished out nine assists and, with the score knotted at 53, sank a three-pointer to put her team ahead for good with 9:49 left.
It was Oregon basketball, almost at its best.
Sunday’s game was more than a win. It was a last-second shout-out to the NCAA selectio n committee, as if telling it to overlook that loss to UCLA, because this Duck team is capable of so much more.
Whether Oregon’s recent performances will be noticed is another story altogether.
But the point is this: Since losing to the Bruins and seemingly wiping away all remaining chances of an invite to the Big Dance, the Ducks have found a way to regroup and rebuild.
How did they do it? What was their motivation?
Earlier this season, lighting a fire under the Ducks seemed about as easy as burning a water-logged chunk of wood.
Yet there was obviously something burning at McArthur Court as Oregon withstood Arizona’s attempts to regain the lead.

One would have a hard time arguing that postseason play is what’s inspired the Ducks. Even if they beat Oregon State this Saturday — which they should — they’re still a long-shot to make the NCAA tourney. Head coach Jody Runge has publicly spurned the WNIT, and some players share their coach’s opinion.
Meaning that even if the WNIT r elocated its final four to The Pit, Oregon still might not take its invitation.
So there’s got to be something else that’s powering this team.
Really, it all comes down to one word.
Pride.
Anyone who’s ever talked hoops with any of t he Ducks’ five seniors knows that team has pride, and lots of it.
Anyone who’s ever seen the two championship banners hanging in the rafters of Mac Court must gain some understanding of what’s expected from these players, right from the moment they don an Oregon jersey for the first time.
Senior forward Lindsey Dion said it best earlier this season: “We don’t lose at the University of Oregon.” That said, all that losing must have been killing them.
The loss to UCLA put the Ducks in a unique situati on. Had they beat the Bruins but lost to Arizona, ASU or Oregon State, they’d probably be tournament-bound. But UCLA is awful this season. Losing at Pauley Pavilion, even if Oregon wins out, could be the nail in the coffin.
Even though Oregon’s t ourn ament hopes were slim-to-none after losing at UCLA, the Ducks still had hope. More importantly, they knew that one more loss would end those hopes.
And with their backs against the biggest wall one could imagine, the Ducks put their collective foot do wn. No more losing. Not this season.
They won’t, either. They’ll beat the Beavers in another physical Civil War, and their postseason will still hang in the balance.
It would be unfortunate for this team to not get into the Big Dance. Oregon is on a tear that’s been unmatched this season. Under Runge, the Ducks have never made it past the second round of the NCAAs. Dare it be said? With the way the Ducks are rolling now, a Sweet 16 wouldn’t be out of the question.
But any NCAA action is to o uncertain to predict. Runge knows it, the Ducks know it.
What Oregon also knows is that it can end its season on a winning note. The seniors know they can be remembered as the team that should’ve made it, rather than the team that almost made it.
Just one more game.
Mac Court won’t get another banner to show for this season, but the Mac Court faithful will always remember watching their champions.