About the only thing that has been the same for Kourtney Shreve this season was a half-court shot against Stanford at McArthur Court.
In Oregon’s victory over Stanford on Jan. 13, 2001, Shreve drilled a half-court buzzer beater to give the Ducks momentum heading into halftime. Against the Cardinal two weeks ago, Shreve found herself in the same situation, with the ball on the far end of the court as the clock faded in the first half. This time, though, the attempt wasn’t even close.
“When we played them this year, my shot was completely off, but when I got the ball, I was like, ‘Oh, replay,’” Shreve said.
So goes Shreve’s season.
You see, Kourtney Shreve is a junior trapped in a freshman’s role.
Last year’s starting point guard for the Oregon women’s basketball team is averaging less than nine minutes per game this season compared to more than 20 minutes per game last year.
Two years ago, Shreve was an honorable mention on the Pac-10’s all-freshman team. This year, playing on a squad with seven guards, Shreve rarely gets honorably mentioned at Mac Court.
“It’s been a big adjustment,” the Albany native said. “It’s been harder than I thought with everything being so new this year.
“Although I did have high expectations for myself, I knew there were some people in front of me,” she added. “When the opportunity comes, I just try to make the most of that.”
The two points per game this season haven’t fazed Shreve, who keeps her focus on the good of the team.
“What’s best for the team is what I want,” she said.
Oregon first-year head coach Bev Smith said Shreve has been a “super role player” this year for the Ducks, who travel to Washington State on Thursday.
“She’s just a positive athlete, and I know it hurts her not to play, but she understands that she has to do certain things and play a certain way to contribute in a game,” Smith said. “I think Kourtney has done a great job because she’s kept such a positive approach. She works hard in practices, she makes practices better and she pushes our starters.”
In the last three games, when the Ducks have played their best ball of the season, Shreve has come on strong in her limited role. In nine minutes against Oregon State on Saturday, Shreve scored seven points on 3-of-3 shooting.
“We’ve finally established a game where she can be a part of it,” Smith said. “We need her to take the ball and penetrate and do the things she’s really capable of doing as a ball handler.”
As a sophomore, Shreve was shocked when she was named the opening day starter after Shaquala Williams, the 2000 Pac-10 Player of the Year, went down with a season-ending knee injury. Shreve started 22 of Oregon’s 29 games last year.
“Coming into last year, I expected it to be what it has been this year,” she said. “I thought I would get my opportunities, maybe not a whole lot, but I wanted to make the best of what I got. This year I was willing to do whatever I could, knowing that I wouldn’t be the leader.”
It has taken some time, but Shreve has found her rhythm on the court of late, averaging six points in the last three games.
“Now it’s more clear what my role is when I do come in,” she said. “I try to keep the pace and keep the intensity of the people who do play a lot — just try to fulfill what they do.”
Shreve can take solace in the fact that she has another year in an Oregon uniform. Who knows, maybe her senior year will be more like her sophomore campaign.
“I still have one more year, and I want to make a positive impact on this program,” Shreve said.

Burstin’ the bubble?
The Ducks finish their regular season this weekend at Washington on Saturday. A win over the Huskies — with the assumption of a win over 0-16 Washington State (2-24 overall) — would put Oregon at 11-7 in the Pac-10 and 16-11 overall.
Oregon made its eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season with a 10-8 mark in conference play and a 17-12 overall record.
“Certainly the more games we can win, the more opportunity we’re going to have for people to give us a second look for the Big Dance and for any other secondary dance that might be out there,” Smith said. “But right now, what’s important for us is to go up to Washington State and take it 40 minutes at a time and try to play the best basketball we’re capable of doing.”
Oregon’s best hope of getting a ninth consecutive bid from the NCAA is to win the inaugural Pac-10 Tournament, which the Ducks host beginning March 1.
“The players really haven’t had a chance to let it all sink it, but to play for the Pac-10 championship on our home floor will speak volumes about who we are and where we will go after the season,” Smith said.