Syracuse battled back against Oregon women’s basketball in the fourth quarter.
The Ducks needed to get something going offensively to fight off the Orange’s attack. Oregon needed someone to be the hero. And of course, it was none other than the Ducks’ MVP and last year’s national point guard of the year, Sabrina Ionescu.
“That’s why Sabrina is Sabrina,” head coach Kelly Graves said.
Ionescu buried four fourth-quarter 3-pointers and carried the No. 3 Ducks to a 75-73 victory on Saturday over No. 18 Syracuse. Ionescu’s 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists saved the Ducks as the junior lit up Matthew Knight Arena following the Orange’s late comeback attempt.
“I saw we went down six and I just did everything that I could to not lose that game,” Ionescu said. “They had left me open, and I knew it was time for me to hit some big-time shots.”
The espnW preseason player of the year scored just five points in the first half, all in the first quarter. Her 15 fourth-quarter points came in clutch for the Ducks at a time when Syracuse looked like it would come from behind to snatch the win from Oregon.
Ionescu hit back-to-back 3s to tie the game at 67 in the fourth when the Ducks trailed by six points after leading for nearly the entire game up to that point.
“As soon as I released them, I knew they were going in just with the adrenaline and the desire to not lose when we went down six,” Ionescu said.
Ionescu loves the big spotlight too. A fourth-quarter technical called on Syracuse’s Emily Engstler after fouling Oregon’s Maite Cazorla allowed Ionescu a chance from the line with the score knotted at 57.
Ionescu hit both free throws and Cazorla followed up with a third for the initial foul.
It’s consistently been the Ionescu show in her three years at Oregon. The Walnut Creek, California, native has been the star of the show for the Ducks since arriving in Eugene.
After helping lead Oregon to Pac-12 regular season and tournament championships last year and back-to-back runs to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament, Ionescu is showcasing her skills yet again.
Oregon could have called a timeout late in the game, but with Ionescu and Co. on the court, the Ducks’ bench didn’t see it necessary.
“I trust Sabrina, Maite [Cazorla] — that’s one of the best back courts in the country,” Graves said. “If we called a timeout, they would know exactly what we would say because I think we’re that in-tune.”
In Oregon’s win on Saturday night, Ionescu took over the game. At this point, it’s almost second nature for her.
Everyone around her knows it too.
“I told her walking over here (for interviews) tonight, ‘You played like an All-American tonight,’” Graves said. “That’s what they’re supposed to do and she did it.”
Follow Shawn Medow on Twitter @ShawnMedow
