PORTLAND – With Taylor Lilley sidelined, the Oregon women’s basketball knew they needed another scorer to ease the load on Eleanor Haring’s shoulders.
Kaela Chapdelaine did just that. The junior shooting guard provided the Ducks (6-1) with 16 points – eight in the first half – in shaking off an early season shooting slump. Her effort combined with Haring’s 18 points and Tamika Nurse’s 11 was more than enough to take down Colorado (5-5) 70-60 Saturday at the Rose Garden.
“I’ve been putting a lot of work in the gym and just taking more practice shots at game speed,” Chapdelaine said. “Tonight it worked out so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Chapdelaine matched her offensive output with a lockdown effort defensively on Colorado’s Jasmina Ilic. The 6-foot-1 inch Ilic, with shooting range extending to the NBA three-point line, scored nine points in the first half but only two in the second half.
Twice in the last half Chapdelaine blocked Ilic’s shot.
“I think everybody should always play well defensively,” Chapdelaine said. “You can control how intense you are. You can control how smart you play defensively. That’s just a heart skill of the game.”
Chapdelaine’s stat line, which also had four rebounds and four assists, helped offset the absence of Lilley, who is out until early January with a fractured bone in her left hand.
“That’s the kind of game we expect from Kaela,” Oregon coach Bev Smith said. “She’s been doing all the little things other than scoring for us in the last few games and … that her first shot that she hit she just looked so confident and confidence comes from preparation.”
The win extends Oregon’s unbeaten streak in the Pape Jam to nine games.
Oregon began the game on a 16-0 run and held Colorado at a distance. One minor disappointment, of a couple, was not putting the Buffaloes away when Oregon had the chance.
“We played well at times,” forward Jessie Shetters said. “I wouldn’t say that it was a great game that we played, but we got the job done.”
At halftime, Oregon led 31-22, and again extended the lead to 16 points at 48-32 and then 18 points at 60-42. But like the first half, Oregon let Colorado back in.
Colorado guard Whitney Houston exploited Oregon’s defense and repeatedly attacked the basket with success. Houston poured in all 13 of her points in the final 5:38 as Colorado pulled within nine, 60-51, but that was as close as they got.
For seniors Shetters and Cicely Oaks, this was the last time the Portland natives would take the court in their hometown in Oregon green and yellow. Last year, the women had the first game in a route of Prairie View A&M. This time, the men went first, delivering a 68-56 knockout of visiting Nebraska.
“Watching the boys play before us was a little bit nerve wracking, but once I got in the flow of the game the nerves went away and everything was cool,” Shetters said.
Shetters drew 6-foot-3-inch forward Jackie McFarland on defense. McFarland, who entered Saturday with averages of 20.4 points and 10.2 rebounds, had to work for her 14 points and 15 rebounds against the 6-foot-6-inch Shetters.
McFarland had a quiet seven points in the first half when Oregon took control.
“I just want to be real aggressive,” Shetters said. “The coaches talk to me about staying on my feet and not falling for shot fakes and pump fakes and anything like that.”
Oaks had eight points, making a three-pointer and 3-of-4 free throws.
Oregon returns to Eugene briefly and then head on a two game road trip to the Midwest. Oregon visits Drake on Thursday at 7:05 (central time) and Missouri State (CT) on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (CT).
The Ducks open Pac-10 conference play on Thursday, Dec. 21 against Washington at McArthur Court and follow that with a Dec. 23 visit from Washington State.