One down, one to go.
The Oregon women’s basketball team will play its second and final exhibition game Sunday against Western Oregon at 1 p.m. at McArthur Court. The Ducks defeated Strakonice of the Czech Republic, 80-69, in Wednesday’s exhibition opener.
Sunday will be the final contest where nothing matters but the chance to gain experience. Oregon opens its nonconference schedule with Valparaiso Nov. 15.
“We’ve been able to push each other in practice, but it’s always nice to play against somebody else,” senior forward Cathrine Kraayeveld said after Wednesday’s game. “It kind of tests us if we can take what we’ve done in practice and put it into games.”
Improving its defense has been Oregon’s main off-season focus. Head coach Bev Smith has committed to improving the Ducks defensively after the team finished ninth in the Pacific-10 Conference in points and field goal percentage allowed last season.
Sunday’s game will offer another chance for Oregon to work out the kinks after struggling with Strakonice’s transition offense.
“Getting back, making sure we run to the ball ready to take control and make (Strakonice) play some half-court offense (was important),” Smith said. “When we did that I thought we were much more effective. We have to work and be much more precise and much more aware in defensive transition.”
The second point of emphasis for the Ducks has been rebounding. Oregon finished dead last in the conference last season, grabbing just under 34 rebounds per game. The Ducks out-rebounded an undersized Strakonice team 42-33 on Wednesday.
The third aspect Oregon will work on in the game is offensive execution. The Ducks were sixth in the conference in scoring with just fewer than 66 points per game last season, but Smith said the team is now capable of scoring “within the 70 to 80 point range.”
After Wednesday’s exhibition, players and coaches have reason to be excited about Oregon’s offensive potential. Junior point guard Corrie Mizusawa dished out 15 assists –which would have been a school record if game statistics had counted– and dazzled fans with her crisp reads and no-look passes.
“She’s done a great job of creating for herself and looking for the open person,” Kraayeveld said. “She’s a true point guard and I think we’ve missed that in the past couple years. We’re really excited for what she’s going to offer this year.”
Junior guard Brandi Davis will once again be a reliable scoring option for Oregon. After sharing the team lead in scoring with Carolyn Ganes last season at 10.9 points per game, Davis dropped 16 points on Strakonice, knocking down 4 of 6 from three-point range.
Davis said that this year’s team has exhibited better chemistry than in seasons past.
“We’ve come to an understanding about each other and we can definitely play well together,” Davis said. “We have great things to come in the future.”
Oregon will not have all of its weapons available Sunday. Freshman forward Jessica Shetters sat out of Wednesday’s game with what Smith referred to as a “stress reaction just above the ankle.” Smith said the 6-foot-6-inch Shetters should be on crutches for a week or two before returning to action.
Senior guard Kayla Steen and sophomore guard Chelsea Wagner have been nursing injuries, while freshman guard Kaela Chapdelaine will miss the season as a medical redshirt.