The minutes came sparingly for Brandi Davis to start this season; the fifth-year senior never left the bench against Stanford.
With Oregon needing a spark, coach Bev Smith inserted Davis into the lineup on the Ducks’ trip to Arizona and she made a significant impact. Smith’s lineup change didn’t result in wins, but it did show what Davis can add to this team.
Davis dished out three assists in Oregon’s physical 44-43 loss to Arizona State and followed two days later with 14 points in a season-high 29 minutes against Arizona.
Davis made 4 of 6 three-pointers against the Wildcats. She hit a late three-pointer with Oregon down by two to give the Ducks a temporary one-point lead and help force overtime. Davis also showed the ability to drive and get to the basket.
“It was just nice going out there, being able to know my team had confidence in me to hit some big shots,” Davis said.
She combined with Chelsea Wagner, Oregon’s main long distance threat, to keep the Ducks close before losing 81-72 in overtime to an inspired Arizona team.
“Right now, a lot of people are focusing on Chelsea and our post game,” Smith said. “If (Davis) can bring something else, that really opens it up for everyone else.”
Davis graduated last spring and qualified for a fifth year of eligibility. She gained admission as a partial qualifier academically in 2001-02 and didn’t play. She is averaging 14 minutes a game with two starts this season.
Maybe not the impact she expected, but Davis said she has relied on her religious beliefs and the idea that everything will work out.
“I know I was in my little slump for a while, but I realized that this is something bigger than myself,” she said.
With Davis continuing to play better in practices, Smith said she expects to use Davis again this weekend with Washington State visiting tonight and Washington Saturday.
Oregon sits near the bottom of Pacific-10 Conference standings at 10-6 overall and 1-5 in the Pac-10. Two home games against the Washington schools and next week’s back-to-back games with rival Oregon State (7-7, 1-5) give Oregon an opportunity to climb back into NCAA Tournament contention.
“They are huge,” Wagner said. “We need to get the wins for sure.”
First up is Washington State (6-10, 0-7). Washington State receives a boost from the return of junior guard Adriane Ferguson, who missed the previous 12 games with a broken right pinky finger. Forward Kate Benz is nearly averaging a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds per game.
Tuesday, it was announced that senior Washington guard Kayla Burt left the team. Burt, who returned last year after suffering a cardiac arrest on New Year’s Eve 2002, chose to retire after her internal heart defibrillator activated during Washington’s game against UCLA on Jan. 12.
Burt, a 5-foot-11 reserve guard, led Washington with 20 three-pointers. She averaged seven points, two rebounds and two assists when she ended her career.
“You have to cherish every moment that you’re out there practicing and playing because you never know when it can be taken away from you for various reasons,” Smith said.
Wagner said it’s hard seeing Burt have to end her career this way.
“Knowing what she’s gone through and knowing Kayla, it’s devastating, ’cause you know how bad she wanted to play,” Wagner said.
Washington (12-4, 5-2) split two games with the Los Angeles schools at home last week, losing 64-61 to USC. Versatile guard Cameo Hicks averages 15 points, six rebounds and two assists a game. Forward Andrea Plouffe guides Washington down low with averages of nine points and four rebounds. Hicks and guard Kristen O’Neill will provide the long distance shooting in Burt’s absence. O’Neill has 18 three-pointers this season and Hicks has made 16.
[email protected]