At the start of the homestand against the Arizona schools, Oregon women’s basketball was 9-7 and lost three straight conference games to start Pac-12 play. 

When the weekend ended, the Ducks swept both the Sun Devils and Wildcats, extending a six-game win streak at home since they lost against Santa Clara on Nov. 18.

The Matthew Knight Arena win streak almost snapped when Arizona shot 60% in the fourth quarter that included an 8-0 run for the Wildcats. But, when Sofia Bell ended the run and Sammie Wagner’s well-timed threes as the clock winded down, Oregon was able to secure the win, 70-68. 

That game wouldn’t have been won without offensive support from players outside of the Ducks’ trio — Grace VanSlooten, Chance Gray and Phillipina Kyei. Between those three, they lead the team in average points, rebounds and assists. Against Arizona State, those three combined for 55 points in the 65-53 win. 

With VanSlooten averaging 16.1 points per game, Gray with 14.6 and Kyei with 12.5, next on that list is Bell with 7.2 and Sarah Rambus with 4.5. If the trio doesn’t have a good night, Oregon doesn’t win. 

But, on Sunday other players stepped up which led to the Ducks sweeping both Arizona schools at home for the second straight season. 
Defensively, Bell has been a key player for the Ducks. She has had at least one steal in 14 out of 18 games with multiple steals in seven games. When Arizona started to warm up in the second half and started to cut the deficit, Bell contributed offensively by having six out of her eight points come in the second half. 

Wagner tied her career-high in points, made field goals and made 3-pointers with eight points with both of her three pointers coming in the game’s final six minutes when the Ducks were leading by five or less. 

Even though Oregon only trailed for 14 seconds of the game, the Ducks committed 27 turnovers and allowed the Wildcats to get within two as the game came to an end. On paper, Wagner and Bell’s contributions were small — especially when VanSlooten finished with 19 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Kyei had her conference-best 11th double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Gray had 13 points with three 3-pointers in the first half, but the help from Wagner and Bell relieved some pressure that has been on the Ducks’ trio all season. 

Early in the season, Oregon head coach Kelly Graves said that Gray and VanSlooten have done well embracing their new roles early on, but that “it’s hard to ask sophomores” to be leaders.

“Somebody’s gotta do it,” VanSlooten said. “And I think that’s where Chance and I [work] really well. We kind of work off of each other. We know each other.”

While Kyei is older, she didn’t start playing basketball until ninth grade as a way to make friends after moving to Canada from Ghana. 

It’s always difficult to lead, but asking fresh faces to lead a team that carries a national brand adds another level of stress. The support from Wagner and Bell offensively against Arizona showed a light at the end of the tunnel for the team. With Pac-12 play — one of the top conferences in women’s basketball — underway, contributions from other players will be important as the team gets closer to March.