CORVALLIS — One Oregon women’s basketball player came into Saturday’s Civil War more focused than anyone else on the floor.
Senior Andrea Bills was so locked in that she didn’t notice Oregon State guard Mandy Close shaking hands with each Duck starter before tip-off. Close caught Bills’ attention by reaching out and grabbing her hand.
After a glance and a quick smile, Bills went back into her zone and swatted the jump ball to a teammate.
Bills shot 7 of 10 and finished with 17 points to tie a season-high and reach the 1,000-point career mark. She missed her first three shot attempts of the game, but each of her next seven fell in. The 6-foot-4 center hauled in all seven of her rebounds in the first half and recorded three of her four blocks before halftime.
That fiery play seemed to motivate Oregon’s bench in the second half, which was Bills’ goal.
Basketball fans have seen some less-familiar faces come off Oregon’s bench and make a significant impact with substantial playing time.
This time it was sophomore guard Cicely Oaks, scoring nine points in as many minutes and shining on the
defensive end with three steals.
“It’s exciting when other players can go in and have a big game,” Bills said. “It starts with us at the beginning of the game, going out and playing hard and aggressive and then letting others come out and do their jobs.”
Oaks had scored five points in five games over a total of 16 minutes this season and was filling in for senior Brandi Davis, who was ill. Oaks got in and sustained Oregon’s offensive and defensive intensity.
“We have a really deep bench, and it really showed with our players — particularly Cicely and Yadili (Okwumabua),” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “They’ve been playing well and going very hard in practice. That’s why we’re as competitive as we are, because (Cathrine Kraayeveld) goes against Yadili every day. Cicely pushes Kaela (Chapdelaine), Brandi and Chelsea (Wagner).
“Their opportunity came tonight, and they took advantage of it.”
Bills went to the bench eight minutes into the second half. Oregon’s other starters were also rested. Kraayeveld was the only player who played more than 30 minutes (31).
“The confidence level for them now is so high,” Wagner said about Oregon’s bench players. “We can take a breather and then do a better job when we go in with some rest.”
At times in the second half, the Ducks played with one or no starters on the floor, while Oregon State could not afford to pull senior Shannon Howell — its leading scorer — for more than four minutes. Howell didn’t notice any difference in Oregon’s pressure once its reserves came in.
“Their subs and everything were the same,” Howell said. “All their players played the same — I don’t think it was different.”

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