It’s rare for a late December non-conference matchup to have the feel of a must-win game, but for Oregon (9-4), Thursday’s 70-63 victory over Oklahoma State (7-4) was just that.
The Ducks came into today’s matchup needing a strong victory to propel them into Pac-12 play. With the Ducks struggling against inferior opponents, a victory over a strong Cowgirls team was just what Oregon’s NCAA tournament hopes needed.
The Ducks have had a tumultuous non-conference slate of games, today was no different. Oklahoma State rallied back to tie a game it once trailed by 17, Oregon held its ground down the stretch and although tested, emerged victorious.
Relying on an even distribution of scoring, four Ducks finished in double figures as Oregon shot 46.7% from three. Sofia Bell added 15 points and was particularly stout as an on-ball defender. Bell was instrumental in forcing bad looks for the Cowgirls, who began the game just 2-15 from the field.
Oklahoma State’s shooting would pick up as freshman Stailee Heard led the Cowgirls to connect on 40% of their remaining three-pointers. Coming off a 27-point outburst, Oklahoma State’s Hannah Gusters, was contained on the interior throughout, led by forward Kennedy Basham, the Ducks tallied 10 blocks on the day.
Even though Oregon took a 15-point lead to start the second half, the Cowgirls went on a 9-0 run. Oklahoma State finished with 14 offensive rebounds compared to just three from the Ducks.
Led by a pair of Heard three-pointers, Oklahoma State rallied back to tie the game with just over three minutes remaining. However, the Cowgirls would score just once more as Oregon would score the remainder of the game’s field-goals. A pair of Bell free-throws clinched the game, giving the Ducks their best win in a while.
For Oregon, today’s victory was as important as ever, especially with the Pac-12 slate that comes next for the Ducks. Six of the Ducks Pac-12 opponents are currently ranked. Crosstown rival Oregon State is an undefeated 10-0, simply put, it won’t get easier for head coach Kelly Graves’ squad.
However, at least for today, the Ducks victory showed a glimpse of what this team could be. Chance Gray’s dynamic play led the team with 21 points on 9-12 shooting, Phillipina Kyei and Grace VanSlooten each added 13 points respectively.
Graves’ team has been tested throughout the season, today was no different. The Ducks will head to Corvallis as they begin Pac-12 play against Oregon State on New Year’s Eve.
