Bounce in their steps
The Oregon women’s basketball team has not put together as complete a game offensively this season as they did in their Valentine’s Day victory against Washington. The offense compiled 77 points on 56.8 percent shooting – both marks are season-bests – and the Ducks (8-15, 5-8 Pacific-10 Conference) earned praise from Oregon head coach Bev Smith at Tuesday’s practice.
“I think there’s a fine line between executing and really working to make a team run long routes, hit screens, go inside-out … it really opens the defense up,” Smith said in reference to the Washington game. “You still have to make them, but you have to feel good about that kind of execution.”
Good vibrations carried into practice on Monday and Tuesday, as the challenge of a Bay Area road trip loomed over the players.
“It was a really good practice yesterday,” sophomore forward Nicole Canepa said. “Coming from a win and then going into practice, thinking about who we’re playing this week, it’s really good to be on a positive level.”
That was then, this is now
It bears mentioning, of course, that the Ducks played Washington – the Pac-10’s worst team, with a 1-12 conference record (5-18 overall) – at McArthur Court. A road series against No. 6 Cal and No. 4 Stanford requires a bit of a perspective adjustment. Losses to the Golden Bears and Cardinal in a home series on Jan. 22-24 snapped an Oregon streak of four wins in five games.
The newfound relief of tension, the players figure, helps them come to grips with the task at hand.
“We really have nothing to lose against these teams, so it’s kinda like, if we have fun and just play our hardest, at least we can walk away saying that we gave it our best shot,” junior guard Taylor Lilley said.
Regaining their health
Lilley, who has been hampered in recent weeks by a concussion and a sprained ankle, played 39 minutes against Washington and said she’s ready to go for the Bay Area series. Canepa, who has missed most of conference play with a sprained ankle, has returned to game action and is gaining strength.
“The ankle’s still a little weak, but other than that I’m okay,” Canepa said. “Maybe a little bit weaker on the jumping part, but other than that, sprinting’s fine, lateral (quickness) is fine.”
Oregon might also receive a boost in the imminent return of senior transfer forward Rita Kollo. Kollo, who is questionable for the Bay Area series, has participated more fully in practices after recovering from a broken right foot. She still has not yet played an official game as a Duck.
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After a big home win against Washington, the Ducks face the daunting task of playing Stanford and Cal on the road, both top-10 teams
Daily Emerald
February 17, 2009
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