Giuliana Mendiola showed Oregon on Saturday why she was named Pacific-10 Conference Player of the Year last season.
The Washington senior scored 18 of the team’s final 23 points — including 13 straight — in leading the Huskies to a 67-56 win over Oregon in front of 4,254 at McArthur Court.
Mendiola started her scoring run with 10:37 remaining in the second half when her three-pointer from the right wing gave Washington a 47-40 lead.
Oregon pulled to within two at the 8:29 mark when a three-pointer by Brandi Davis made the score 49-47. Mendiola answered with eight straight points and the Huskies led by at least five the rest of the way.
The 5-foot-11 guard finished with 22 points on 8 of 17 shooting.
“My teammates rely on me to score so I just tried to bring it,” Mendiola said. “I just started taking my time, relaxing and not forcing things.”
Oregon (12-12 overall, 4-10 Pac-10) entered Saturday’s game hoping to avenge its 95-50 loss — the third worst in school history — to Washington (14-10, 7-8) on Jan. 15 in Seattle. The Ducks stayed within shouting distance of the Huskies the entire game but couldn’t find an answer for Mendiola in the second half.
It was the second time in three contests that Oregon allowed an opposing player to dictate the outcome of a game. Oregon State’s Brina Chaney scored 31 against the Ducks in a Feb. 7 loss to the Beavers in Corvallis.
“I think (Mendiola) is a great player,” Davis said. “She found her rhythm. As a defense, we have to learn to slow her down.”
Davis helped keep the Ducks close down the stretch, scoring 14 of her team-high 19 points in the second half. Her three three-pointers moved her into fifth place all-time on the Oregon career list with 91.
Eleanor Haring struggled offensively for the Ducks two nights after scoring a career-high 16 points against Washington State. The freshman forward had no problem creating open shots for herself, but ran into trouble knocking them down. Haring missed her first six shots en route to eight points on 3 of 13 shooting.
“I think she just missed some good shots,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “It’s too bad because I think if she had gotten off to a better start, it certainly would have given them some different defensive problems.”
Oregon opened the game on a 7-2 run, but cooled quickly, scoring only six points during the next eight minutes. The teams exchanged blows until a three-point play by Washington guard Cameo Hicks with 18:06 remaining in the second half gave the Huskies a 30-27 lead they didn’t relinquish.
Along with Mendiola’s performance, Washington received a big second half from center Andrea Lalum. The 6-foot-4 senior scored 12 of her 16 points after halftime, including eight consecutive during a 90-second stretch.
Lalum’s 16 points came despite a 2 of 8 first-half shooting performance. The former Montana High School Girls Player of the Year said she focused on rebounding — grabbing eight total — to help her overcome her slow start.
“It seems to be that way the last couple games where I start off cold and shots aren’t falling,” Lalum said. “Rebounds are something I can control, so I just try to pick it up on the defensive end, get some rebounds and try to help my team out.”
Gioconda Mendiola finished with nine points for the Huskies, while Hicks added nine and grabbed seven rebounds.
Andrea Bills notched her second consecutive double double for Oregon, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Chelsea Wagner added nine points on 3 of 8 shooting.
Washington head coach June Daugherty said the Huskies needed the win as they prepare for the Pac-10 Tournament.
“The kids are definitely stepping up and playing to their potential,” Daugherty said. “I’d like a little more breathing room than what we had but we’ll take it — especially at Mac Court.”