It was a December to remember for the Oregon women’s basketball team — but for all the wrong reasons.
After a remarkable 4-0 start, which included wins over then-No. 16 Wisconsin and 18th-ranked North Carolina State, the Ducks (8-3 overall, 1-0 Pacific-10 Conference) were propelled to a No. 10 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
With the second toughest schedule in the country, though, head coach Jody Runge’s early success didn’t last. Oregon dropped three straight games on the road to ranked opponents, all in the span of one week.
The first loss of the season came at the hands of the Texas Longhorns on Dec. 9 — and it wasn’t a pretty sight for the Ducks, who suffered a 82-58 thrashing. The loss was the team’s worst loss since 1994.
“Texas just ran us through the floor,” said Angelina Wolvert, who is leading the Ducks with 13.7 points per game. “I think Texas plays a lot quicker game than us.”
Oregon was hampered by foul troubles, with Texas converting 22 of 25 from the line, while Oregon could only muster a 9-for-19 performance from the charity stripe.
“Texas is a good team,” senior center Jenny Mowe said. “They didn’t get the respect they deserved in the preseason, but they were ready for us, and we came out flat.”
Four nights later, in Lubbock, Texas, the Ducks looked to get back on the winning track and spoil No. 11 Texas Tech’s 34-game home winning streak. The wins continued for Texas Tech, as Oregon lost a hard-fought battle in overtime, 79-75.
The Ducks had a season-high 32 turnovers in front of 12,822 fans at the United Spirit Arena, including five in the five-minute overtime session.
Dec. 16 was another disappointing day for the Ducks, as Utah forced Oregon to commit 21 turnovers. Utah held Wolvert to zero points in just eight minutes, while the Ducks shot a season low 35 percent from the floor.

“We didn’t shoot the ball well,” Runge said. “We didn’t hit open outside shots. Utah had a great game plan and executed it well. We have been very lethargic.”
Senior forward Brianne Meharry sprained her left ankle against the Utes and missed Oregon’s next two games.
The one-week falter was Oregon’s first three-game slide since the 1995-96 season.
“It was a long road trip,” said Mowe, who is pacing Oregon with a .589 field goal percentage and 5.6 rebounds per game. “We had to step back after that and figure out what our goals are for this year. And that definitely helped us refocus.”
Rest and refocus proved wonders for the lingering Ducks, who went on to win their final two games in December, and their first two to open the year 2001. In its final tune-up before the Pac-10 opener, Oregon demolished Boise State 67-29 — the lowest point total Oregon has ever held an opponent.
Additionally, Oregon won its Pac-10 opener at Oregon State last week, 71-67 (although it was the closest Civil War in four years.) Meharry made her return against the Beavers and led the Ducks with 24 points.
Now, the Ducks seem to be back on track, and back up to the 20th spot in the polls. They know that some people may have doubts about them due to their December losing streak, but the Ducks don’t mind.
Oregon knows what it can do and is poised and ready to battle California (4-8, 0-2) and Stanford (7-5, 1-1) at McArthur Court this week in two big Pac-10 games.
And, as the story goes, the Ducks are nearly unbeatable at home under Runge, who has compiled an impressive 81-17 record in her eight years at The Pit.