Thursday night was a fun night for the Oregon women’s basketball team.
Along with pounding hapless Washington State into the McArthur Court hardwood, the Ducks got to do something they hadn’t done on a basketball court for quite some time.
They had fun.
Oregon used solid defense, flashy passes and plenty of smiles to defeat Washington State 74-52 in front of 3,388 appreciative fans at McArthur Court.
From the opening tip, the Ducks carried themselves like a team that knew it was going to win. They carried themselves with a confidence that had been missing since senior All-American candidate Cathrine Kraayeveld was lost for the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her right knee on Dec. 2.
And most importantly, they carried themselves like a team that enjoyed playing with one another.
“In warm-ups, everyone just had a really good aura,” Oregon forward Kedzie Gunderson said. “We were all laughing and having fun and we started that way. We were playing defense and getting out and running and keeping to our strengths.”
Gunderson fed off the pre-game energy, tying career-highs in points (13) and rebounds (seven). The Bellvue, Wash., native also drilled her first three-pointer since Dec. 6.
“It’s been awhile since I made one of those,” Gunderson said. “(My teammates) were all laughing at me because it took me like five minutes to shoot it.”
Gunderson’s three-pointer was one of several amusing moments for the Ducks.
There was Brandi Davis’ running scoop shot off the glass midway through the second half. There was 5-foot-8 guard Corrie Mizusawa playing the role of shot blocker.
The most amusing moment of the night, however, came with 2:23 remaining and Oregon ahead 74-47. Washington State guard Nikki Stratton appeared to be on her way to an uncontested layup when Oregon freshman Cicely Oaks came out of nowhere and delivered an I-don’t-care-how-much-we’re-up-by-you’re-not-getting-an-easy-two-points-foul. The result was Stratton flying into the basket, then walking away unharmed.
The most impressive performance of the night was turned in by freshman Eleanor Haring. The 6-foot-1 forward scored a career-high 16 points, while showing off all the different weapons in her offensive arsenal.
Haring connected on 8 of 12 field goals, knocking down jump shots, baby hooks and beating opponents off the dribble.
“We were all pretty pumped up, ready to go,” Haring said. “During the game — with the great start we had — we were having a ball.”
Pundits will say Thursday’s performance by Oregon was nothing to write home about, looking at Washington State’s 1-13 record in Pacific-10 Conference play. Those who share the opinion probably haven’t been following the Ducks.
It didn’t matter if Oregon beat Washington State or the Sheldon High School girls junior varsity team Thursday. With all the obstacles the Ducks have faced this season, they needed to have some fun on the basketball court to prepare for the season’s stretch run.
The Ducks have five games remaining on their Pac-10 schedule. Even though they won’t face the Cougars again, there’s no reason Oregon can’t have a few more fun nights.