The Pacific-10 Conference Women’s Tournament is still a fairly new event, appearing for the first time at McArthur Court upon the conclusion of the 2001-02 regular season. That year, Arizona State claimed the championship game; Stanford has won the last two.
Oregon reached the semifinals in the inaugural tournament but fell to the Sun Devils. Since then, the Ducks have not been able to make it past the first round, losing to UCLA in 2003 and California in 2004.
The Oregon teams that fell short in the tournament included memorable and skilled players, such as Shaquala Williams, Jamie Craighead and Kayla Steen. Also on those rosters from the start were center Andrea Bills and forward Cathrine Kraayeveld. Point guard Corrie Mizusawa transferred in the following season.
Bills, Kraayeveld and Mizusawa are now seniors, and there is no doubt they’ve gained experience and have observed what it takes to win at the tournament. With that said, and with all the knowledge in hand from three seasons of coming up short, the Ducks are ready to test what their seniors have learned.
“Hopefully we’ll last a bit longer this time around,” said Bills, who is second on the team in scoring with 11.4 points per game. “We’re really looking forward to making it all the way to the championship game this year.”
So, is this the best team Oregon has brought into the four-year-old Pac-10 Tournament?
“I think we’re more determined,” Bills said. “We have a good record this year and we’re more complete as a team.”
This season, Oregon posted a 12-6 Pac-10 record, its best since the tournament was introduced. Even after a long regular season, the somewhat tired Ducks finished with a 19-8 overall record and earned the
conference’s No. 2 seed — their best previous spot was No. 5.
Every team has suffered some wear and tear over 27 games, but Oregon head coach Bev Smith said her team is prepared for the final stretch.
“Everybody is healthy — knock on wood — and ready to go,” Smith said.
With the exception of the loss of its primary shooting guard, Chelsea Wagner, Oregon is at full strength,
especially in the paint.
“Our greatest strength is inside,” Smith said. “In the second half of the Pac-10 season, teams did a great job trying to limit that. Once teams fight to stop that, then our outside game opens up and we have a tremendous outside game.”
The Ducks have succeeded with clutch outside shooting from Kraayeveld and guard Brandi Davis, with occasional contributions from sophomore Kaela Chapdelaine and freshmen Gabrielle Richards and Kristen Forristall.
In addition, Mizusawa leads the Pac-10 and ranks No. 2 in the nation in assists with just over seven per game.
“We have older players,” Bills said. “Just the abilities and skills that everybody brings is a complete package.”
Oregon hopes to advance past first round
Daily Emerald
March 2, 2005
Erik R. Bishoff 124 Photographer
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