The Oregon women’s basketball team faces its first road test of the season tonight against Gonzaga at The Kennel in Spokane, Wash.
It will be the first action in more than a week for the No. 24 Ducks (2-0), who last played Nov. 16, defeating then-No. 9 LSU, 76-67, at McArthur Court.
Junior point guard Corrie Mizusawa said the Ducks have taken advantage of their lengthy preparation time between games and are looking forward to stepping back on the court.
“I think it’s been good practice for us based on our (victories over Valparaiso and LSU),” Mizusawa said. “We’re definitely excited to go to Gonzaga and get ready to play.”
After being crowned champions of the Women’s Sports Foundation Classic nine days ago, the Ducks are making sure not to take upset-minded Gonzaga for granted. After confidence-building wins against Valparaiso and LSU, along with games against Kansas and North Carolina State coming this weekend, it would be very easy for the Ducks to overlook the Bulldogs.
“We’re in their house and their kennel,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “We have a big target on our back. We’re a Pac-10 school, and they’re going to give us their ‘A’ game and we have to bring ours.”
Oregon has never lost to Gonzaga in seven meetings dating to 1986, including last year’s season-opening 83-72 victory at McArthur Court.
Gonzaga is led by junior Ashley Burke. The 6-foot-1 forward is averaging 17.5 points per game while connecting on 74 percent of her shots. Sophomore forward Ashley Anderson is the only other Bulldog averaging double figures at 14.5 points per game. Anderson is also the team’s top rebounder with six per game.
Gonzaga’s main outside threat is junior Raeanna Jewell. The 5-foot-10 guard is averaging 8.5 points per game and has connected on three of seven three-point attempts. As a team, the Bulldogs are struggling from the outside, connecting only 26 percent of the time from behind the arc. Perimeter shooting struggles aside, Gonzaga is shooting 50 percent as a team.
Along with the Bulldogs’ talented trio, the Ducks know they’ll have to battle the added pressure that comes with playing as a top 25 team.
“It’s a little more pressure on us, but we just have to go into every game playing the way we know we can play,” Mizusawa said. “We did that against Valpo and LSU, so hopefully we can do that (tonight).”
Mizusawa is third on the team in scoring at seven points per game, but more importantly, she has done an excellent job of distributing the ball among her teammates. Mizusawa has created open shots for teammates at all spots on the floor, while averaging nine assists per game.
Senior forward Cathrine Kraayeveld has been the main beneficiary of Mizusawa’s passing skills. Kraayeveld leads Oregon with 25.5 points per game, scoring both inside and outside. The 6-foot-4 forward has connected on nine of 18 three-point attempts and is shooting 50 percent from the floor overall.
Kraayeveld is also averaging 10 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game.
Junior center Andrea Bills has been a force inside, averaging 14.5 points and seven rebounds, while shooting 72 percent from the floor. It was Bills’ three-point play with 3:45 remaining against LSU that put the game out of reach for the Lady Tigers.
Oregon has been solid defensively as well, holding opponents to 29 percent from the floor and 57 points per contest.
“I think this is going to be one of the biggest road tests (of the year) for us,” junior guard Brandi Davis said. “We just got through playing LSU, so this is really going to tell us where we are as far as our game goes.”