The second-seeded Oregon women’s basketball team
used a stellar second-half defensive performance to capture a 64-50
victory against the seventh-seeded Washington Huskies in the 2005
Pacific-10 Conference Tournament on Saturday, in front of 2,483 at
HP Pavilion.
Oregon (20-8) also used a dominant performance inside by seniors
Cathrine Kraayeveld and Andrea Bills, who combined for 38 points and
20 rebounds, each of them posting double-doubles.
The 6-foot-4 Kraayeveld scored a game-high 20 points on 7 of 12
shooting and added 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. It marks the
ninth time this season Kraayeveld has recorded a double-double and
it is the 28th of her career.
Bills, starting in her 101st consecutive game, added her fifth
double-double of season with 18 points on 8 of 12 shooting and 10
rebounds.
For the first time since 2002, the Ducks have posted a 20-win
season.
“They (the team) knew the importance of today’s game,” Oregon head
coach Bev Smith said. “No just in terms of beating Washington to
advance in the Pac-10 tournament, but as well to keep our momentum
going and assure the possibility of a NCAA tournament berth.”
The Ducks kept their momentum going by getting back to what they
have being preaching all year.
Defense
For the 17th time this season, the Ducks held an opponent to under
60 points.
“We turned Washington into a one-on-one team,” Smith said. “They had
to try and penetrate (to score points). We didn’t give them their
three-pointers; we didn’t really allow room for their posts,
especially Jill Bell. I felt our team played their personal really
well and we took away their strengths.”
Trailing by seven with just under six minutes left in the first
half, the Ducks used a 14-4 run, fueled by a renewed defensive
effort, to take the lead 30-25 going into halftime.
In the second half, Oregon forced Washington (14-16) to shoot 24
percent (7 of 29) from the field and held the Huskies to 13 percent
(1 of 7) from the three-point line.
“Going into the second half, we didn’t allow their transition game
to happen,” Smith said. “We just talked about keeping people in
front of us. We did a good job of defending without fouling and the
number one thing we talked about today was rebounding.”
For the game the Huskies shot 30 percent (19 of 63) from the field,
which was their worst outing of the season.
“I thought we played pretty solid in the first half,” Washington
head coach June Daugherty said. “But in the second half we didn’t
get it done. I think Oregon played a great second half to beat us.”
The Ducks also dominated on the boards. Oregon’s 54 rebounds sets a
Pac-10 Tournament record, topping the previous record of 50, set by
Stanford in 2002. Its 36 defensive rebounds also set a tournament
record.
For the Huskies, sophomore guard Cameo Hicks led the way with 17
points on 7 of 17 shooting and tied for a team-high six rebounds. No
other Huskies finished in double-figures.
Oregon freshman Gabrielle Richards added 10 points and seven
rebounds, while fellow freshman Kristen Forristall contributed six
points and seven rebounds.
Oregon will now take on third-seeded Arizona State on Sunday at 12:
30 p.m. in the semifinals.

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