The Oregon women’s basketball team has made changes since the beginning of the season.
Some changes, like starting freshman Eleanor Haring, have been a choice.
Others — like choosing who will start in place of senior Cathrine Kraayeveld — are a necessity.
“Certainly, in the long run, (the loss of Kraayeveld) is the situation that has been difficult for us,” head coach Bev Smith said. “But I think we have the depth on this team absolutely to overcome that kind of loss.”
Sophomore Carolyn Ganes started in place of Kraayeveld on Dec. 4 against Portland. She scored nine points and grabbed two rebounds in 20 minutes on the court.
The game was a wash for Oregon, a 76-58 loss that was the Ducks’ first of the season. The Ducks said later that they weren’t fully ready for the game.
“We were a little bit on our heels,” Smith said after the Portland game. “Each and every one of us tried to take the shot that was going to be worth 15 points rather than be patient.”
Kraayeveld’s injury occurred during Oregon’s final practice in Eugene before they headed north to Portland. The Ducks had very little time to adjust to life without their starting senior leader.
“You could definitely feel that she wasn’t on the court,” Ganes said after the Portland loss. “Everybody needs to kind of take a little time and get used to that feeling and re-adjust our roles.”
Now Jessica Shetters, a 6-foot-6 freshman from Portland, is starting in place of Kraayeveld, getting learn-as-you-go experience in the Pacific-10 Conference.
Haring is also a new starter for Oregon. The two freshmen showed Smith potential off the bench in order to earn their way into the starting five in their first month.

What doesn’t break you

makes you stronger
This isn’t the first year that the Ducks have gone through the trials and tribulations of an injury.
Last season, Kraayeveld missed 13 games due to a staph infection in her right knee. In December 2002, Smith suspended and later dismissed senior Shaquala Williams from the team.
Through it all, the team chugged along. After losing Kraayeveld again this season and suffering a five-game losing streak, Smith said they are still on the track.
“We went through a year of adversity last year and they broke through it and they were stronger and they worked together,” Smith said. “Now this is just a moment where this is an opportunity and we see it as such. We’re going to make the most of the opportunity.
“(The players) have absolutely not given in to the adversity this season. They’re trying to do the right thing to put themselves in a position to win.”
The women know they aren’t off to the best of conference starts, but they are well aware that the season isn’t over just because of a few losses.
“We’re not done,” guard Chelsea Wagner said after Sunday’s loss to UCLA. “We had a rough start with the Pac-10, but we’ve still got a ways to go.”

High school reunion
Center Andrea Bills squared off against a familiar face in Sunday’s game against UCLA.
Bruins sophomore Emma Tautolo, a former high school teammate, matched up against Bills for about five minutes of the UCLA victory. Both players were called for a foul during the second half in skirmishes at each end of the court.
Tautolo and Bills played together at Moreno Valley High School in California.

Surgical holiday
Kraayeveld had surgery on her right knee Dec. 26 for the torn anterior cruciate ligament that she suffered in practice on Dec. 3. The 6-foot-4 former All-American candidate returned to the sidelines to support her teammates at the Jan. 2 game against USC, complete with a large brace on her right leg.