Two points.
Last March, the margin separated the Oregon women’s basketball team from a match-up with South Dakota State in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament.
South Dakota State visits McArthur Court tonight and brings an experienced lineup with four of five starters returning from last year’s team. This Oregon team is younger and working in six freshmen.
While the scheduling may be coincidental, Oregon’s upperclassmen noticed the match-up.
“We were ready for them last year, but we have a different team this year,” guard Taylor Lilley said of the Ducks’ lineup.
Oregon lost to eventual champion Wyoming, 64-62, in the third round of the WNIT. South Dakota State beat Indiana, 60-53, and lost to Wyoming in the fourth round, 70-59. South Dakota State ended its season 25-6.
Of the returning Jackrabbits, guard Andrea Verdegan maintains an all-around game with averages of nine points, six rebounds and six assists. Forward Ketty Cornemann is simmering from the field and is shooting .500 from three-point territory. She’s averaging 15.5 points and 3.5 rebounds.
“They have some really strong guards,” Oregon point guard Tamika Nurse said. “They shoot well from the perimeter so that will be a challenge for us to guard some shooters (and) get ready for the Pac-10.”
South Dakota State’s posts offer a similar challenge with 6-foot-1 forward Maria Boever providing a near double-double of 16 points and nine rebounds a game. Center Courtney Grimsrud is close behind with averages of eight points and 9.5 rebounds.
“I think this is going to be a great test of our progress,” Smith said. “They are a veteran team. Two years ago they tasted the NCAA Tournament. Last year it was the WNIT.”
Oregon decided the outcome of its first game early in the first half and enjoyed a 67-32 blowout of visiting San Jose State. One area of concern was guard Natalie White, who found openings in Oregon’s perimeter defense and made 5-of-9 three-pointers.
“We just have to be aware of who their best player is and just communicate to each other better out there,” said Lilley, who provided Oregon’s perimeter presence with four three-pointers of her own in a 19-point effort.
Post Ellie Manou, who grabbed three rebounds, also had two assists but had three points on 1-of-6 shooting.
“I though she played with a strong presence in our last game against San Jose State,” Smith said. “She didn’t finish well but she put herself in a position to make plays.”
Micaela Cocks sat out the San Jose contest for playing in a non-sanctioned game back home in New Zealand and provides more depth with her return. The poised Cocks, who exploded in the first exhibition game for 14 points, had an off-night in the second exhibition game with three points.
“It’s great to have her back in the lineup,” Smith said. “She brings a lot. She’s very versatile in the sense in coming in off the bench at our one, two and three (positions). We’re excited that she’s back.”
Smith said she expects guard Nia Jackson, who played more in Cocks’ absence, to have a similar role tonight.
Visiting South Dakota State also gives Oregon one final tune-up before Marquette, an NCAA Tournament team last year, visits McArthur Court next Tuesday.
“They look really disciplined and they play hard,” Lilley said. “It should be a good game. It should be a good challenge for us and hopefully we can rise to it.”
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