Victoria Kenyon has watched, from thousands of miles away, as floodwaters have choked her native Australia.
Kenyon, a native of Brisbane in the state of Queensland, has had no immediate family lose lives or homes in the floods. Her 23-year-old brother Nathaniel, living in an apartment next to the swollen Brisbane River, escaped unscathed.
“He was on the second floor but it only got flooded to the first,” she said. “He wasn’t able to access it.”
Kenyon recalled Tuesday the plight of some family friends, whose house had been flooded up to its roof.
“They have no walls, they have no way of locking their house up,” she said. “All their belongings have been destroyed.”
Thanks to an assist from a pair of Portland Trail Blazers, Kenyon and fellow Australian Ellyce Ironmonger are in position to help.
Blazers guard Patty Mills, a native Aboriginal Australian, has established an “Assist Australia” effort to support flood victims. Mills and Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez will appear at Thursday’s contest against Arizona State, signing autographs and selling T-shirts, with all proceeds
going toward Assist Australia. Mills and Ironmonger attended the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra together in their high school years.
Seniors saying goodbye
Saturday’s game against Arizona will mark Senior Night for six Ducks.
Guards Candyce Flynn and Kristi Fallin joined the program two seasons ago from junior colleges, as head coach Paul Westhead’s first two recruits. Center Ironmonger, forwards Nicole Canepa and Kenyon, and guard/forward Tatianna Thomas were recruited by former head coach Bev Smith, one of the greatest women’s basketball players in Oregon’s history.
The sextet’s legacy will be defined by several major events.
Then-athletic director Pat Kilkenny opted not to renew Smith’s contract as head coach two seasons ago after an 8-21 record, leading to Westhead’s hiring. Smith’s methodical, defense-oriented style of basketball gave way to Westhead’s up-tempo, fast-breaking style.
They have played the last game ever at McArthur Court, sending the 84-year-old building out of full-time use with a 68-64 win over Washington on Jan. 8.
“People say that, college-wise, you don’t really realize it (has been four years) until your last regular-season game,” Canepa said. “It’s bittersweet for me. It’s definitely an accomplishment that I’m really proud of, for myself and my team.”
Jackson out of action
Junior point guard Nia Jackson remains doubtful against Arizona State on Thursday due to knee injuries suffered against Washington.
“She has not practiced yet,” Westhead said.
Jackson has missed six straight games and looks increasingly less available to play in any of Oregon’s remaining contests, particularly when conditioning is factored in.
“You go in stages — have her show up, have her start doing a routine,” Westhead said. “How long is it going to take you to get in shape? She has not played in a month.”
Westhead admitted to missing Jackson and her presence in the lineup. Despite missing those games, Jackson remains the Pacific-10 Conference’s scoring and assist leader.
“I think every game I would say, ‘Oh, if we only had Nia,’” Westhead said. “Nia’s a key player for us.”
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Patty Mills, Rudy Fernandez set to appear at women’s basketball game
Daily Emerald
March 2, 2011
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