Emily Westerberg and Aubree Johnson dropped 10 points apiece to help No. 16 Arizona State defeat Oregon 62-52 Sunday.
The Ducks (14-10 overall, 5-9 Pacific-10 Conference) held the Sun Devils to their third lowest score of the season, but could not score consistently on offense. Oregon shot 20 of 52 from the field which off-set holding Arizona State’s leading scorer Kristen Kovesdy to four points.
“After Arizona, we thought we felt we had the ability and desire to beat ASU,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “The girls in our locker room, they’re disappointed, but they know we have more games. There’s plenty of basketball to be played and plenty to be won.”
Oregon dug itself into a deficit late in the second half after keeping the game close heading into the final five minutes of play. The Ducks trailed by as many as 17, but used a three-pointer by Carolyn Ganes and four late baskets by Brandi Davis to pull within 10 as time wound down. Arizona State secured its sixth-straight win and 20th victory of the season.
Ganes finished with 10 points and four rebounds. She led Oregon to a rally midway through the second half. Ganes sank a
lay-up with 7:18 left in regulation closing the score to 48-40. From there, Amy Denson and the Sun Devils poured it on. The senior from Central Point, Ore., came off the bench to score five of her seven points in the final six minutes of regulation.
The win, in front of 3,850 at McArthur Court, improved Arizona State to 11-4 in the conference (20-5 overall), strengthening its hold on second place in the Pac-10 standings behind No. 14 Stanford. They became the third team to beat the Ducks in Eugene this season.
Oregon’s Gabrielle Richards felt Arizona State’s shooting and hustle was too much for the Ducks. The Sun Devils shot 13 of 28 in the second half.
“They’re a fantastic team,” Richards said. “They’re fast, active, they attack you, and we just couldn’t handle that.”
Richards and Davis both led Oregon in scoring with 12 points. Richards added 11 rebounds completing her fourth double-double of the season.
Oregon’s starting guards had a quiet afternoon on offense. Kaela Chapdelaine went scoreless and also finished with zero rebounds. She was credited with four of the Ducks’ 18 turnovers. Chelsea Wagner went one for eight from the field and zero for three from beyond the arc. She was held to two points after scoring 24 Thursday against Arizona.
The game belonged to forwards Johnson and Westerberg. Johnson’s 10 points came within four of tying her career-high scoring mark set Jan. 8 against UCLA. The junior from Post Falls, Idaho scored four of her team’s opening six points of the second half. Westerberg pulled down five rebounds and added an assist.
Kovesdy was limited in scoring, but led the Sun Devils with six boards. The senior from
Scottsdale, Ariz., helped keep coach Charli Turner Thorne’s offense going by opening up outside shots for her teammates.
“They made adjustments and it was tough for us to respond,” Smith said. “When we contained them down low, they bounced it outside and hit a deep one.”
Danielle Orsillo and YoVanna Rosenthal both hit two of Arizona State’s seven three-pointers.
Oregon’s loss is its third in four games. The Ducks face Washington and Washington State on the road this week.

[email protected]