The news left coach Bev Smith saddened.
June Daugherty had suffered cardiac arrest last May and was listed in critical condition. Coaching is a fraternity within the Pacific-10 Conference, and for years Smith’s Oregon teams had matched up with Daugherty’s Washington squads.
“To hear that had happened to her was just surreal and to see how close to home it was,” Smith said. “I know June. She’s very active. She’s very fit. She looks after herself. She eats well and to see that happen – I think it woke a lot of us up that this is just a game.”
Daugherty’s condition improved to serious. She has since recovered and has a defibrillator implanted on the left side of her chest. Daugherty, who was fired at Washington, resurfaced as coach of Washington State. Smith has had the chance to talk to Daugherty and says she noticed a positive, upbeat individual.
“Her and her husband are coaching in a great community,” Smith said. “It’s going to take a little bit of time, but she knows that. She’s been around the game.”
Washington State (3-13, 0-5 Pac-10) visits McArthur Court tonight on a seven game losing streak. Smith remains wary of the Cougars, who came within four points last week of beating USC.
Oregon (8-8, 2-3) meanwhile is looking to move back above .500.
“This is an opportunity we must take advantage of and certainly I think we have a little bit of motivation to feel better about ourselves,” Smith said.
That motivation comes from an 83-49 loss at Stanford. Oregon, tired from a close loss to California two nights earlier, never threatened the Cardinal, who started on a 20-4 run.
“That kind of left a sour taste in our mouth,” Smith said. “Not necessarily because we lost, but the way we lost and I don’t think we really felt good about things. I think there’s motivation to have us play well and together and smart because we can and we should.”
Oregon will be mindful of Washington State’s perimeter players with the Cougars shooting 33.4 percent from three-point range. Alexa Price and Katie Appleton lead Washington State with 23 and 22 three-pointers, respectively.
Appleton is also the leading scorer at 12.4 points a game – the lone Cougar averaging double figures.
Washington State freshman Jasmine Williams is emerging as a role player and averaging 5.6 points in 20.3 minutes a game.
“It’s great to see her being able to hit the threes. I think that that’s been a real plus for our team but the other thing I think she’s doing is obviously adding a lot on the rebounding end,” Daugherty said in a conference call. “She gives up a little bit of size at that three position – only being about 5’8 but she’s very physical and she’s a kid that really competes at a high level.”
Oregon is aiming to get guard Taylor Lilley more involved on offense. She went scoreless at Stanford and had no shot attempts in 25 minutes. Lilley, who averages 12.4 points a game, tops the Ducks with 34 three-pointers.
“We’ve always respected her,” Daugherty said. “We’ve known a lot about her, even from her high school days so she’s somebody that’s definitely on the scout board and it’s loud and clear who you better be out on because she is just capable of taking over a game with her long-range shooting.”
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