This was the way Bev Smith envisioned her young team playing.
Her post players crashed the boards and finished on the offensive end. The guards took care of the basketball and efficiently ran Oregon’s offense. The game was close, but instead of crumbling, a young roster answered with poise.
The resulting 60-49 Oregon win Saturday against Oregon State inside McArthur Court gave a clear indication of the progress the Ducks have made this season.
The win in front of 3,414 fans sent senior guard Kaela Chapdelaine out in a positive fashion following an emotional pre-game ceremony for the Canadian, who hails from the small town of Okotoks, Alberta.
Family, friends and former Oregon teammates awaited Chapdelaine on the court. She emerged and hugged current teammates, coaches and her supporters.
Typically poised, Chapdelaine let her guard down until the pre-game ceremony had passed and she refocused on winning her last game in an Oregon uniform.
“(My teammates) know that’s all I care about,” Chapdelaine said. “When all is said and done I just want to win the game.”
Oregon has now won three of its last four games and enters the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament this week in San Jose, Calif. With Washington’s win over California today, Oregon finishes in seventh place in the Pac-10. The Ducks’ first game in the tournament will be against 10th-place Washington State on Friday at 6 p.m.
By beating the Beavers, Oregon improved its record 13-16 overall and 7-11 in the Pac-10. Oregon State fell to 11-18 and 4-14 in the Pac-10.
Winning the conference tournament and earning a spot in the NCAA Tournament is Oregon’s only chance now at postseason play.
“The Pac-10 Tournament – that’s an automatic bid,” point guard Tamika Nurse said. “That’s all we can hope for right now.”
Forward Ellie Manou showed the consistency coaches had been looking for with 18 points and six rebounds, following up a 12-point, eight-rebound performance against UCLA.
Chapdelaine, who had eight assists, often found Manou cutting to the hoop, where the 6-foot-3 post finished. Manou has struggled much of this season consistently making shots inside but finished strong Saturday with a 9-of-14 shooting performance.
The potential of Manou and center Nicole Canepa had been touted much of this season and are now achieving it as the season ends.
“Until you realize it yourself and start believing in yourself that’s when it really starts to show with the success,” Chapdelaine said. “This year it’s been about reinforcing how great they are. They do have talent.”
Canepa had a quieter afternoon, with six points and three rebounds.
Oregon’s post play made up for another off-game by guard Taylor Lilley, who made three of her 14 shots, one week removed from shooting 4-of-17 against UCLA.
Manou has dealt with foot pain throughout the season, which has prevented her from practicing. The adrenaline, she says, takes away the pain during the game. It’s the next day she feels it.
“I just tried to play hard,” Manou said. “For me, it’s not about scoring. It’s about rebounds. It’s about hustle. Scoring is the bonus.”
The overall effect of Oregon’s recent success has buoyed the spirits of a team down on itself following a seven-game losing streak that ended with the Ducks’ win at Washington State.
Oregon’s upswing has also coincided with the Ducks’ more relaxed approach when faced with a close game in the waning minutes. Oregon State pulled within three, 50-47, with 1:37 remaining, but Oregon reeled off the next seven points to make it a 10-point game, 57-47, with 34 seconds left.
“The locker room is so much more positive and we feel better on the floor,” Nurse said.
Oregon State’s Brittney Davis missed much of the latter half of Pac-10 play with a knee injury and wasn’t expected to play Saturday, but had a 20-minute stint and had four points and three assists.
Alex Mitchell had 10 points and 14 rebounds. Forward Tiffany Ducker, who provided a consistent scoring presence with a variety of back-to-the-basket moves, led Oregon State with 17 points.
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