Micaela Cocks scored a career-high 27 points on 8-of-9 shooting (5-5 from three-point range), and Taylor Lilley had 25 points, seven assists, four steals, two blocked shots and no turnovers as the Oregon women (8-1) shook off a rambunctious Long Beach State squad, 102-70, at McArthur Court on Sunday afternoon.
“I thought our players, in the first half at about the 10-minute mark, established how the game was going to go,” head coach Paul Westhead said. “Our offense was generated off the defense again.”
Once again, the Ducks established themselves early and often against the 49ers, carving out a 13-5 run over 5:30 in the first half to establish a 27-15 lead with 8:19 remaining. Oregon continued its hot shooting all the way to the end of the half, taking a 52-28 lead.
Long Beach State tried several variations of press breaks over the course of the game, including passes along the baseline before throwing the ball in play. Oregon frustrated the 49ers enough in the first half to commit 16 turnovers — and score 20 points off them. The 49ers also finished the game with two five-second violations off failed attempts to inbound the ball.
“We’re going to continue to see a bunch of different press breaks. At the end of the day, we’ve just got to find our player and defend them,” Cocks said. “We don’t worry about their adjustments.”
Long Beach State came out of halftime with a 7-0 run, but Oregon answered right back with seven points of its own. The Ducks proceeded to catch fire, as five consecutive three-pointers started a 23-11 run over seven minutes to bury the 49ers.
“We learned a lot on Friday night (against Boise State),” Lilley said. “We put an emphasis on the second half in this game.”
The Ducks made 21 of their 38 field goals in the second half (55.3 percent) and 38 of 72 field goals for the game (52.8 percent), including 14 of 31 three-point field goals (45.2 percent). Oregon scored 33 points off 28 turnovers while committing just 13 of its own.
Amanda Johnson had 11 points, nine rebounds and four assists for the Ducks, and Jasmin Holliday had 13 points and four steals off the bench. Forwards Lauren Sims (20 points) and Ally Wade (15 points, seven rebounds) led the way for the 49ers.
The Ducks will be on the road for the rest of the year, with games against Georgia Tech, Wyoming and Utah, before returning to McArthur Court on January 1 for their Pacific-10 Conference opener against Washington.
“I told the players, ‘The circus is in town. Here we come,’” Westhead said.
Friday’s result: Oregon 88, Boise State 61
Amanda Johnson scored 20 points and snagged nine rebounds, while Jasmin Holliday recorded her first career double-double (12 points, 13 rebounds) off the bench for the Ducks as they rode a dominant first half to an 88-61 victory over the previously undefeated Broncos on Friday night.
Oregon never trailed as it strolled to a 53-24 halftime lead over the Broncos — the largest halftime margin for the Ducks this season. Oregon shot 50 percent from the field (18-36, including 7-14 from the three-point line) while Boise State made just 10 of 29 field goals (34.5 percent), compounding troubles by making just one of six free throws (16.7 percent).
The Ducks came out flat in the second half, shooting just 29.8 percent (14-47) eventually outscored by the Broncos (37-35). Westhead’s full-court press defense, however, stifled any attempts at a Boise State comeback.
Guards Tasha Harris, the reigning Western Athletic Conference Player of the Week, and Jessica Van Hoogen scored 15 points each for the Broncos.
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Harrassing defense key as Ducks defeat 49ers 102-70
Daily Emerald
December 6, 2009
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