More than two months ago, when the Oregon women’s basketball team last saw the Washington schools, it was flying high with a 9-3 overall record. Two straight wins over the Huskies and Cougars gave the Ducks a 2-0 start in the Pacific-10 Conference, and their confidence was at a season high.
Since then, much has changed. There have been ups and downs, triumphant wins and devastating losses.
Indeed, the Washington series now seems a distant memory.
“It almost seems like another season,” head coach Paul Westhead said. “Like, ‘Oh we played them last year, didn’t we?’ It almost feels that way.”
This time around, the Ducks (16-12, 7-9) will head into the state of Washington with a bit less bounce in their step. They have lost four straight games, including two last weekend in McArthur Court’s final Pac-10 women’s games.
Given its recent struggles, Westhead wants the team go out with a bit of a chip on its shoulder.
“I want our team to go out hungry to win,” Westhead said. “Not anxious, not nervous, not overly confident, just a hunger.”
With the Pac-10 Tournament fast approaching, the players echo Westhead’s sentiment.
“It would just be so nice to get two wins and carry our momentum going into the tournament,” senior guard Taylor Lilley said.
To do that, the Ducks will have to first travel to Pullman, where Washington State (7-20, 2-14) awaits. As is indicated by their record, the Cougars have seen their fair share of turmoil throughout the season. Still, Westhead is not taking them lightly.
“It befuddles me that they don’t have more wins, both (of the Washington schools),” Westhead said. “Especially Washington State, since they only have two wins. It’s not because they’re not good players, well coached. They just haven’t won.”
Oregon narrowly edged Washington State in the first matchup by a score of 98-92. The full court press had little effect on the Cougars, and Westhead knows the defense will have to be tighter this time around.
“They did a good job,” Westhead said. “They were one of the first teams that did a good job of running on our presses … and they have good, quick guards, so there’s a reason why they can get out and run.”
“They really have a tendency to go over our heads,” Lilley said. “So we just have to be aware of that.”
Given their record, the Cougars sit at the bottom of most statistical categories. Still, Oregon will pay close attention to freshman guard KiKi Moore, who leads the Pac-10 with 3.22 steals per game.
Washington (10-16, 5-11) has had a similarly disappointing season. If nothing else, the Huskies are unpredictable, and the Ducks do not know exactly what to expect.
“They’re a very scrambled-type defense and offense,” Lilley said. “You don’t really know what they’re going to throw out at you, so you just have to be ready for that.”
In the last meeting between the two teams, Oregon came away with an 82-71 victory. It was a particularly momentous night for Lilley, who scored 33 points and broke the all-time Oregon three-point record.
On paper, neither Washington State nor Washington seems particularly intimidating. Looks, however, can be deceiving and Westhead is well aware of this.
“I have the strong sense that (losing) hasn’t brought them down,” Westhead said. “It’s not like they’re going to walk out heads down saying, ‘All right, two more games.’ I don’t have that sense at all.”
The beginning of the season, this is not. Every win is crucial and could have sizeable implications on the playoff picture.
“We have to win games,” Westhead said. “Whatever we’re going to do down in Los Angeles (in the Pac-10 Tournament), we have to win and get on the right track.”
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Ducks not overlooking cellar dwellers
Daily Emerald
March 4, 2010
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