Using a fast-paced offense to their advantage, Oregon women’s basketball managed to edge out Utah on Thursday night, 72-67. @@http://www.goducks.com/downloads2/445692.htm?ATCLID=205373474&SPSID=4307&SPID=236&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=500@@
The System — head coach Paul Westhead’s fastbreak attack — paid serious dividends against the Utes. The Ducks used a series of easy buckets to grab a 23-5 lead early in the first half. Though the Ducks shooting eventually went cold, (the team finished at 37.3 percent for the game) the aggressive offensive approach aided the Ducks on the defensive boards tremendously. 
“If we’re getting stops and getting defensive rebounds, it allows us to break,” senior forward Amanda Johnson said. “And if we’re always breaking, that’s going to prevent them from even crashing, allowing us to secure the rebound.”
Consequently, Oregon finished with a 53-36 rebounding advantage, including 16 offensive rebounds. The edge was so uncharacteristic that Westhead feigned disbelief when he glanced at a postgame box score.
“Are you sure this is right?” he joked.
The Ducks excelled at a high speed of play largely due to a strong effort by senior point guard Nia Jackson. Jackson, who has struggled with knee problems all season, shot 6 of 10 to finish with 19 points, five rebounds and two assists in only 25 minutes of play.
“Nia had a quiet 19 points,” Westhead said. “She is just driving on people and cutting through, but off to a little slow start and just getting going. If Nia Jackson can play that many minutes and break through defenses like she has been doing the last game or two, we’re happy with Nia’s performance.”
Despite Jackson’s rejuvenating effort, Westhead hesitated to show confidence that Nia’s health or playing time would improve substantially in the near future.
“I wouldn’t go that far,” said Westhead. “That’s kind of a medical thing, and I don’t know what she’s getting back. We kind of rest her during the week and try to save her and even in the game, you’ll see her out there playing two or three minutes and she can barely walk back to the bench. So I don’t know if she’s actually getting physically better, I think she’s just learning to play — this is the game I’m in, and I’m gonna give you what I have.”
Jackson said she could feel Utah’s guards wearing down as the game went on.
“Yeah, I definitely saw (fatigue) a little bit,” Jackson said. “We were able to get a lot of layups tonight. But that’s what The System does. It wears and tears on people and it tires them down. So I think we were effective at that, and that’s how we got the win.”
She also credited the Ducks’ defense, which held the Utes to 27.3 percent from the field in the first half.
“It definitely starts defensively,” Jackson said. “We were able to get some steals and run. When we slow it down more and allow them score it slows down our system, which doesn’t let us score as much. So it’s important for our defense to get it and go.”
Defensive boards also helped fuel the fastbreak. Johnson and fellow forward Liz Brenner were able to get the ball to their guards efficiently in order to pick up the pace.
“We had good outlets tonight,” Westhead said. “The ball was getting out, the point guards had a lot of pop. Lexi Petersen is sprinting down, almost out of control — I like that in her. She didn’t get great stats but she has no fear … When Nia’s hurting and the pace slows down, we need someone to do that.”
Despite an up-and-down outing, Westhead remained good-natured about the Ducks’ near-collapse in the second half.
“The game’s never easy for us,” Westhead said with a smile. “We always keep it interesting.”