When Oregon women’s basketball student manager Ryan Fingerett found out it was undergraduate Sinéad Nelson’s final game cheering on the Ducks from Oregon’s student section, he offered Nelson a behind-the-scenes experience she won’t soon forget.
Nelson received a tour of the players’ lounge and a walk-through of the team’s pregame preparation, and had breakfast with the team. The team presented her a signed practice jersey and basketball before she returned to the student section to watch Oregon pull away in the second half to down Utah Valley, 79-68.
Nelson, who is graduating from the University of Oregon after the conclusion of fall term next week, has been at every women’s basketball game while school’s been in-session for the past four years.
“Today was the best part of my four years,” Nelson said. “It was so special.”
Nelson stood front-row for Oregon’s seventh straight win to open the season. Jillian Alleyne had 22 points and 19 rebounds while Maite Cazorla had 16 points and a team-high eight assists.
Two other Ducks, Liz Brenner and Lexi Petersen, also finished with double-double performances.
Oregon and Utah Valley were tied at 22 after the first quarter. A steal and a layup from Cazorla helped the Ducks pull away in the second with a 9-0 run, giving Oregon a 40-34 lead with 1:32 before intermission. The Ducks took a 42-37 lead to the locker room, where head coach Kelly Graves said the conversation focused primarily on defense.
The Ducks opened the second half on a 6-0 run on points from Alleyne, who had 16 second-half points. Oregon finished shooting 50 percent from the field, while Utah Valley shot 44 percent.
“I was pleased in many ways,” Graves said. “I wish we could’ve tightened up the defense a little bit, but the reality is that they run their stuff really well. We had to go to plan B and plan C and adjust.”
Utah Valley pulled to within nine points (77-68) with 1:08 to play, but the Ducks won the rebounding battle (39-30) and recorded 21 assists on 33 field goals. The Ducks limited themselves to 11 turnovers and shot 7-of-23 from 3-point range.
Just after the final buzzer, the team walked over to Nelson’s usual perch in the Oregon Pit Crew section. One by one, they hugged her. It might’ve been a simple gesture, but for Nelson, it was the final show in a personalized farewell.
Nelson said she remembers her freshman year at Oregon, when she said student support sometimes consisted of three fans. It’s since grown under Graves in his second year.
“It’s because of all the incredible women in this program,” Nelson said. “You can’t not love this team.”
Alleyne said it will be tough to not see one of the program’s strongest supporters during home games. Nelson has grown close to many of the players and occasionally texts Graves with ideas, as well as attend practice.
“They didn’t have to do all of this at all,” Nelson said. “They did it out of the kindness of their hearts. It just shows the heart of this team.”
Graves said if Nelson ever needs anything, his phone is always on.
“She’s what it’s all about,” Graves said. “She’s been an anchor for us.”
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne