Every winter since she was 4 years old, Oregon basketball’s Erin Boley has perfected her game. In the summers, she would trade her basketball shoes for cleats to take the softball field — until eighth grade, when she won a fastpitch national world series.

Driving back from the tournament, Boley, from the backseat of her dad’s truck, said she was done with softball and that from then on she would focus on basketball year-round.

“I looked a little bit ahead and was like, ‘What I really want to do long-term is play basketball in college,’” she said.

During her freshman season with Notre Dame, she played every game — including the Fighting Irish’s 2017 run to the Elite Eight— and averaged 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds.

However, following a transfer from Notre Dame due to dissatisfaction with coaching and program styles, the redshirt sophomore sat out her first season from basketball since she started playing. The forward returned to competition this season. Given her size at 6-foot-2 and her reputation as an elite 3-point shooter, Boley’s strength is in her versatility.

“She’s a fun kind of player to coach because it allows me to be creative,” head coach Kelly Graves said.
For the Ducks, she will fill the place on the starting line of 3-point star and hometown favorite Lexi Bando. With five inches on Bando, Boley can play outside the three-point perimeter, while also having the size to transition to the post for under-the-basket shot opportunities.

“Depending on who’s guarding her, they can do different things with her,” Boley’s father, Scott, said. “Hopefully, that will add another dimension to allow them to take a step further, possibly make a Final Four.”

In the Ducks’ first two games, the transfer tallied 14 and 13 points, respectively, and in her Oregon debut in Alaska, shot 50 percent from beyond the arc.

Just four days later at home, she shot 25 percent, missing nine of her attempted threes, and recording four assists. With the Ducks’ tied in their home opener, Boley stepped up with a 3-pointer to give Oregon the lead to eventually win the game.

It’s been over a year since Boley has played in an NCAA game and in that time, the Ducks fell to her former team in the Elite Eight last season. Boley, who couldn’t travel with the team, watched the Ducks’ downfall on television. The loss has fueled her hopes to drive the Ducks to the Final Four.

“It just makes me even more excited for the next time we’ll be able to play [Notre Dame],” Boley said.

Boley has the added experience of representing the United States in the FIBA 3×3 World Cup with fellow Ducks senior Oti Gildon and juniors Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard.

Before heading to the 3×3 World Cup, the all-Oregon squad swept the USA national championships in the spring. In the final game, Boley managed eight points, a team high, all from beyond the arc – two points each per 3×3 rules – to secure the national title.

Boley returns to Oregon with her 3×3 teammates, a summer of international experience, and a “development year,” during which she trained with the Ducks.She focused on areas to improve without the added pressure to compete in games while also studying up on the Duck’s established starting line.

“All last year, I really sat down and took the time to watch them play and . . . see how I fit in with them,” Boley said. “I know what I wanted to bring to the team and how I wanted to fit in. I know from watching what all of them can do and they like to do and don’t like to do.”

Follow Sierra Webster on Twitter @WebsterSierraE