The Oregon women’s basketball team made a full 180-degree turn to
transform a first-half disaster into a 79-56 victory over Idaho State
in front of 3,272 fans at McArthur Court.
The Ducks (6-0) started cold Thursday, shooting 8 of 34 (23.5 percent)
from the field. Idaho State secured a 31-23 lead at halftime.
“They (Idaho State) were the aggressor and the aggressor usually
wins,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said about the first half.
“It’s no secret, but it was to our team until halftime.”
The Bengals (3-5) were at an obvious size disadvantage but managed to
use their speed and quick shooting to stay ahead.
“I thought we were going to where we needed to be and really flying
to the ball,” Idaho State head coach Jon Newlee said. “I really
feel like we had a lot to do with what happened in the first half.”
A 56-point offensive surge by the Ducks (6-0) in the second half
signified an aggressive change of pace that they lacked in the first
20-minutes.
“It was two completely different teams,” Oregon forward Cathrine
Kraayeveld said. “I think we came out horrible, but in the second
half we proved how good of a team we can be.”
Oregon, which is off to its best start since the 1999-00 season, shot
61.1 percent from the field in the second half to turn things around
and finish with a 42.9 field goal percentage. It started the second
half with a 10-0 scoring streak to put the Ducks up, 33-31.
“That’s what Oregon basketball can be – that’s the
potential,” Smith said.
Kraayeveld, a senior, paved the way for the Ducks without a knee brace
to slow her down. The senior forward posted a season-high 19 points (6
of 16) and 12 rebounds to mark the first double-double recorded by an
Oregon player this season.
“It feels good to be out of the brace,” Kraayeveld said. “I felt
like it restricted me in a way and I just feel like I am able to move
a little bit better.”
Kraayeveld added four blocks to establish herself as the aggressor of
the second half.
Senior Brandi Davis became Oregon’s most concentrated offensive
threat as she finished with 14 points – all in the second half –
in 12 minutes on the floor.
In a span that lasted just over a minute, Davis went on a 7-0 run that
started with a fastbreak lay-up followed by two three-pointers. That
capped off a 14-0 streak in the later minutes of the game to spread
Oregon’s lead.
“It felt good to have a game like that,” Davis said. “I was just
proud to go out there and play for the team.”
The Ducks shot 7 of 11 from three-point range in the second half and 9
of 23 for the game. Davis and Kaela Chapdelaine each drained 3 of 5
from behind the arc.
Sophomore Eleanor Haring continued her hot shooting with 13 points (6
of 10) in 26 minutes. Point guard Corrie Mizusawa factored in with
seven assists.
“We have some weapons,” Smith said, “and if everybody plays
their role and shoots the ball and goes to their strengths
offensively, I think we’re a tough team to defend.”
Idaho State also received an impressive double-double performance from
freshman Natalie Doma. The 6-foot-3 center scored 19 points and
collected 11 rebounds around Oregon’s big players down low.
Junior forward Andrea Sivakova’s pitched in with 11 points (3 of 9)
for the Bengals. Her three made shots were all three-pointers.
Molly Hays, who averages 15.6 points per game as Idaho State’s
leading scorer, was held to seven points on 2 of 8 from the floor.
Oregon hits the road for a matchup with Colorado State on Sunday.
