Size has been Oregon’s biggest advantage over opponents this season, but now the women’s basketball team will rely on its depth to get through tonight’s game at Arizona.
With the loss of junior Chelsea Wagner, the Ducks have called upon senior Brandi Davis, sophomore Cicely Oaks and freshman Kaela Chapdelaine to fill the void at the No. 2 guard position.
“Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “But our depth and experience has really helped us weather it.”
Even when Andrea Bills or Cathrine Kraayeveld just need a breather for Oregon (12-4 overall, 5-2 Pacific-10 Conference), freshman Gabrielle Richards is ready to come off the bench and see some action.
Smith said that every team must endure injuries and fatigue throughout the season, so usually no team is at a large disadvantage.
The Wildcats (12-5, 4-3) were just recently without junior Shawntinice Polk for a couple games but she is back at full strength. The 6-foot-5 center leads the Pac-10 in blocked shots and is second in field-goal percentage (.611).
“She’s one of the best post players in the conference,” said Bills, a senior center looking forward to a matchup with Polk under the basket. “She’s always a challenge and I’m really excited about it.”
On paper, each team is represented by veteran players who lead or rank high in various statistical categories.
With 853 rebounds, Kraayeveld tops the active career list in that category and her nine rebounds per game is second in the conference this season. Bills graces the career lists at third in rebounds (715) and blocks (85). Corrie Mizusawa leads the Pac-10 in assists this season and for her career.
Polk is the conference’s active career leader in blocks with 191 and second in rebounds (801) and points (1,292). Senior guard Dee-Dee Wheeler leads the Pac-10 in two career categories: points (1,717) and steals (264). She is second in the conference averaging 18.5 points per game this season.
“They’re extremely talented basketball players and they know each other very well,” Smith said. “I don’t think you can stop two players of that magnitude, but you can limit and challenge them.
“Our team is up for it and it will be an interesting measurement of how we can play two very dominant players like that.”
Oregon’s depth also shows with players like Richards, who has already faced Polk in international play.
“I played against her in the World Championships where she represented the U.S.A.,” said Richards, a native of Australia. “She’s really strong and really tough. She’s a big force down low so it’s going to take a lot to stop her.”
Chapdelaine is confident that her team will be able to contain Arizona.
“They’re definitely strong players but I think our team defense will be able to hold them,” she said.
Smith said that along with defense, her team has to focus on ball control, which it lacked in
Los Angeles earlier this season, leading to 40 turnovers in
two losses.
“We have revisited those two things and we are doing a much better job,” Smith said. “Now the opportunity presents itself to go down and test how far
we’ve come.”
The Ducks have not beaten the Wildcats since 2001, but they lead the all-time series 22-16. Arizona has won seven straight against Oregon and its last four meetings at home against the Ducks.
Last year in Arizona, Polk scored 23 points to go with nine rebounds in the Wildcats’ 84-58 rout of the Ducks in front of 5,003 fans at the McKale Center. Oregon was done in by 25 turnovers in the game.
The Ducks haven’t held a road record above .500 since going
10-5 in the 1999-00 season. Oregon is 3-3 away from home
this season.
Arizona is 7-1 at home this season with its only home loss coming from then-No. 8 Stanford, 78-66, Jan. 9.
Oregon is 17-25 on the road in Smith’s four-year tenure and holds a 22-29 all-time road record.

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