Thirty-nine minutes past Saturday’s Civil War tip-off, there wasn’t a trace of turmoil to be seen as Oregon’s five seniors fought to defend their eight-point lead.
Yes, that’s right — all five seniors.
Walk-on guard Camber Ellingson hit a clutch free-throw. Forward Angelina Wolvert nailed her third three-pointer of the season, then sank two more from the charity stripe.
And, to put the finishing touch on the Ducks’ 72-60 win over Oregon State, Ellingson threaded a long, bouncing pass to forward Lindsey Dion, who skied for the uncontested layup and her last-ever points at McArthur Court.
The win came in front of 8,815 fans, the third-largest crowd in school history to watch a women’s basketball game.
Unlike last season, Oregon (17-11 overall, 10-8 Pac-10) players didn’t celebrate their victory against the Beavers (16-12, 8-10) with a Pac-10 title. However, for seniors Brianne Meharry, Jenny Mowe, Wolvert, Dion and Ellingson, the win was just as sweet.
“This last [home] game for us was very emotional and we had a lot of fun out there,” Mowe said. “It was a team game; everyone played for each other.”
Less than 24 hours after beating the Beavers, the NCAA selection committee announced the Ducks would face Iowa in Salt Lake City at 6 p.m. Saturday in the first round of the Big Dance.
The Ducks kept their composure against Oregon State despite an emotional week of practice. Last Sunday, eight unnamed Oregon players met with Athletic Director Bill Moos and — claiming they represented the whole team — recommended that Runge be fired.
Also, being senior night, players had unusual home-court jitters before they even left the locker room.
“Before the game, before we came upstairs, there was this feeling of not knowing how it was going to be,” Meharry told radio personality Ray Martin after the game, as about 1,000 fans gathered around Mac Court to listen. “But when we walked in here and saw our fans, we knew there was no way we’d lose this game.”
The Ducks assaulted the Beavers from all spots on the court. When all was said and done, five Ducks — four seniors — scored in double figures. Wolvert led Oregon in most statistical categories with 14 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, four steals and three blocks. Guard Jamie Craighead also scored 14 points.
“We really showed tonight how well we’ve handled it,” Mowe said, referring to the coaching controversy. “It was not in our minds. Our focus this week was to prepare for Oregon State.”
“You know, we just haven’t talked about it,” Runge said. “I’ve not met with [my players] individually, but I have met with them collectively.”
Oregon’s only sign of nervousness was at tip-off, when Mowe won the tip too convincingly, swatting the ball past her teammates and out of bounds in the backcourt.
Beaver center Ericka Cook scored the game’s first points with a layup on the ensuing possession. But Oregon roared to life with a Dion layin and three-pointers by guards Alissa Edwards and Craighead.
The Ducks then led 8-5 with 16:41 left in the half, and they never trailed again.
But led by Pac-10 leading scorer Felicia Ragland, Oregon State refused to bow down. With 18:30 left in the game, Beaver guard Syesha Thomas made a three-pointer to whittle the Ducks’ lead to 38-37.
Again, Dion — who received at least five stitches above her right eye following a first-half injury — was Oregon’s spark plug. She responded with a trey of her own on the Ducks’ next possession, and Oregon held its rival at arm’s length down the stretch.
Oregon State didn’t get any help from the referees, either. Ragland, who scored a game-high 22 points, was one of four Beavers to finish with four fouls.
“It was a horribly unfair game from start to finish,” OSU head coach Judy Spoelstra said. “It was very frustrating. We felt like our kids never had a chance.”
There was still 1:21 left on the clock when Runge pulled Dion out of the game. The crowd, thinking it was Dion’s final walk off of Mac Court, gave her a loud ovation as the tough forward hugged her teammates.
Then came the chant from the fans: “We want Cam-ber! We want Cam-ber!”
So, 20 seconds later, Dion and Ellingson joined their senior teammates on the floor, and together they stayed until the end.
Runge said there hasn’t been a more memorable senior night in her eight-year career at Oregon.
“Jenny tipped the ball out of bounds,” Runge said, chuckling, “but we talked before the game about not letting the emotion get us in foul trouble, or playing overly aggressive, and I thought they handled a very emotional situation very well.”
Ellingson said that she and former teammate Karen Piers spoke on the phone a couple nights before the game. Apparently, Piers told Ellingson a sure-fire way to beat the Beavs.
“She told everyone to open up a can of Whoop-Ass on them,” Ellingson said.
Craighead said the five seniors will be missed next season.
“I’m really proud of how we went out and played this today,” Craighead said. “The emotions are going to be there because we just lost five of our teammates, but as far as all the other stuff that’s going on, we’ve done a good job of not focusing on it.”