Oregon sophomore Eleanor Haring went 6-for-10 shooting for 13 points and was the Ducks’ second-leading scorer against Strakonice BBC at Mac Court on Friday.
The Oregon women’s basketball team used a determined defensive effort to propel themselves to a 60-44 victory over Strakonice BBC at McArthur Court on Friday.
Offensive production was hard to come by in the first half as both teams struggled with shooting the ball, but the Ducks managed to take a 27-14 lead at halftime.
“I think we struggled offensively at times,” Oregon women’s head coach Bev Smith said. “We didn’t shoot the ball real well at times. But our emphasis has been on defense and rebounding lately, so our offense will come along in time.”
Seniors Cathrine Kraayeveld and Andrea Bills, along with sophomore Eleanor Haring, provided solid defense on the inside, disrupting shots and keeping Strakonice to 6-for-24 shooting in the first half.
“One of our big focuses has been defense,” Smith said. “And in the first half, I think we did a great job of establishing the type of defense we want to play this year — whether it was man or zone.”
Kraayeveld scored 14 of the 27 points for the Ducks in the first twenty minutes. She hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc to start the game and proceeded to score eight of the first ten points for the Ducks.
She also added eight rebounds, as well as a couple of steals and one assist in the first half.
Kraayeveld was the only consistent scorer for the Ducks in the first half. Oregon finished the half shooting nine for 23 (39.1 percent), including one for eight (12.5 percent) from three-point range and eight for 13 (61.5 percent) from the free-throw line.
Kraayeveld finished the game with 16 points, 13 rebounds and two assists.
In the second half, Oregon found some of its offensive rhythm behind contributions from junior Chelsea Wagner, freshman Gabrielle Richards and Haring.
Haring had eight points in the second half and 13 for the game and finished as the only other Duck, besides Kraayeveld, to finish in double figures in points.
Oregon also got solid contributions from Richards and Bills, as the Ducks used the height advantage they had over Strakonice.
Richards came off the bench to contribute seven points and five boards, while Bills — despite a poor shooting performance (25 percent) — was the Ducks’ second-leading rebounder on the night with six.
For the game, Strakonice shot 15 for 49 (30.6 percent) and six for 24 (25 percent) behind the three-point line.
Oregon will take on Portland in the Ducks’ season opener at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Mac Court.
