Sometimes after disappointing losses, you want a second chance to prove yourself. If the Oregon women’s basketball team makes it into the second round of the NCAA Tournament, they may get a second chance at Utah.
Flashback to Dec. 16, 2000. The then-No. 14 Ducks make their first trip of the season to Salt Lake City for a non-conference game against Utah.
A well-scouted and road-weary Oregon team never leads and falls to the Utes, 63-48.
“Utah had a great game plan and executed it well,” Oregon head coach Jody Runge said. “They’re tough to defend and are a great passing team.”
The loss was Oregon’s third in a row at the time and was considered the first stumble in its shaky season. The up-and-down Ducks went on to win seven straight, then dropped eight of their next 10 Pacific-10 Conference games.
Utah (26-3) went on to dominate the Mountain West Conference, compiling a 14-0 conference record along with a 15-game winning streak.
The Utes are led by junior power forward Lauren Beckman, who leads Utah in four statistical categories. Senior Kristina Andersen adds depth in the front court with 9.7 points per game and a 5.1 rebound average. Each had 12 points in the pre-season win over Oregon.
Flash forward to next Monday. Should the Ducks upset No. 4 seed Iowa in the first round Saturday, and if fifth-seeded Utah defeats Fairfield as expected, Oregon and the Utes will clash for a second time.
Although the Ducks will have little time to prepare for the Utes if they do advance, Oregon already knows what went wrong in Salt Lake City the first time. Oregon’s front-line of Brianne Meharry, Angelina Wolvert and Jenny Mowe combined for only seven points and eight rebounds and eight turnovers.
The Ducks will have a secret weapon this time. In the Dec. 16 loss, Wolvert played only eight minutes, going scoreless and grabbing no rebounds. In the past four games, though, Wolvert has been on a tear, averaging 18 points and 8.7 rebounds in four Oregon wins.
Another factor the Ducks will have to overcome if they want a rematch with Utah is playing on the road. Oregon is 6-9 away from McArthur Court.
“[The road] certainly has been our nemesis,” Runge said. “But it’s not like a new place; it’s not a place where our players haven’t been. They’ve played on that floor in the Utah game and they’re used to the environment, and that really has to be a positive to us.”