It was raining in McArthur Court on Friday night.
The Oregon women’s basketball team shot 54.8 percent on the night, adding six baskets from beyond the three-point arc in the first 10 minutes as the Ducks jumped out to a 16-0 lead to start the game against Southern Oregon. That run came en route to a 114-54 romp in Oregon’s second and final exhibition game. The Ducks held the Raiders to 28 first-half points on their way to 55 of their own.
“We have got some great offensive flow, and we have a great understanding that we can be very good on the inside,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “For us, offensively, I feel like we are so much further ahead than last year at this time and possibly even at the end of the year.”
Every Duck scored, with six in double figures. The squad was led by sophomore Brandi Davis, who had 23 points on the night. Davis was 7-of-9 from the field and shot six of Oregon’s 13 3-pointers.
“We have been working on my jump shot and I was just really feeling the game,” Davis said. “We just went out there with a mission to play just as hard as we did the first game.”
“She is exciting, she has a magic touch, and she sees the hoop and makes it look easy at times with her athleticism,” Smith said on Davis’ shooting spree.
Oregon’s other starters also racked up the numbers, with sophomore Andrea Bills scoring 15 points and adding two blocks. Junior Cathrine Kraayeveld brought in 12 points and nine rebounds. Senior guard Shaquala Williams knocked in two from downtown on her way to 10 points in 23 minutes.
Freshman Carolyn Ganes stepped it up in the post for Oregon and played 15 minutes coming off the bench. Ganes was 6-of-7 on free throws, brought down six rebounds and scored 15 points.
“Carolyn did some really good things. She worked her way into the game a little quicker than she did last week,” Smith said. “She began to work harder in the post and ran the floor very well. Carolyn Ganes is going to be very, very important for us.”
Oregon dominated everything on the statistical sheet with the exception of turnovers. Southern Oregon had 30 to Oregon’s 21. The Ducks continue to place a strong emphasis on rebounds and brought home 48 boards, with 19 on offense.
Even though Oregon was bombing from downtown with six players hitting from beyond the arc, the Ducks feel they need to improve for their upcoming competition.
“For now we are just focusing on what we need to prepare for,” sophomore Kedzie Gunderson said. “Right now we need to focus on what we need to improve on and what we need to play hard in. And it doesn’t matter who we are playing, we’ve got to play hard every time.”
If Oregon can keep this pace, the Ducks will hit triple digits 27 more times this season. Oregon hit the 100-point mark for the second time with a two-pointer from Davis with 3:40 left, after the squad finished with 100 against Horsholm BBC Nov. 9.
Friday’s game began with a Williams 3-pointer just 17 seconds into play, and it ended on Davis’ sixth make from beyond the arc with just seven seconds left in regulation to bring the Ducks to a 60-point victory.