Senior Andrea Bills credits her team’s threads for Oregon’s success at home against Pacific-10 Conference opponents this season.
“It’s the white uniforms,” she said after her team dismantled Southern California, 81-59, in front of 4,096 fans at Saturday’s matinee at McArthur Court.
The Ducks (14-6 overall, 7-4 Pac-10) improved to 9-1 at home this season — 6-0 against Pac-10 teams — with a showcase of disciplined shot selection and aggressive rebounding.
Meanwhile, the Women of Troy dropped to 8-3 in conference play and 14-6 overall, but they continue to hold the second best record in Pac-10 conference play.
“(The Ducks) executed their motion offense, they played great defense and they killed us on the boards,” said USC head coach Mark Trakh, whose team brought down only 28 rebounds compared to Oregon’s 44. “We usually win the battle of the boards.”
The unarmed Women of Troy won very few battles; however, they committed fewer turnovers, recorded more steals and shot better from the free-throw line.
But Oregon controlled the defensive glass, collecting 36 USC misses.
“That’s going to be the key to victories in the Pac-10 — controlling the boards,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “We were demons on the defensive boards. We really got after it and didn’t give them second-chance points.”
The Ducks, who scored a season-high 45 first-half points, witnessed the seniors score 66 of their 81 points.
Cathrine Kraayeveld (9-of-11 shooting) and Bills (9-of-14) each posted 22 points. Their similarities were noticeable early with each player recording 11 points and six rebounds before halftime. Both veteran players finished with 11 rebounds. A lay-up with 4:26 left in the first half helped Kraayeveld surpass the 1,000-career-points mark.
“Kraayeveld played very well and Bills just made every shot,” Trakh said. “Their whole team played with a sense of urgency.”
Kraayeveld was a perfect 4-of-4 from long range while shooting guard Brandi Davis scored 14 points, and all four of her field goals came from beyond the arc. Point guard Corrie Mizusawa tallied eight points to go with a game-high nine assists.
“Our players just did a great job of following the game plan,” Smith said.
Bills opened up her shot availability and spread USC’s defense with some early outside shots. She started the game by draining a shot that came from just beyond the free-throw line. It set the tone for a night where she tied career bests in points scored and field goals made.
“I’m still working on the three-pointer … I’m pretty sure they didn’t expect me to shoot the outside shots,” Bills said. “Inside I was trying to be really aggressive and take it to the basket hard.”
Oregon, which never trailed in the contest, expanded its lead with a 13-3 run in the middle of the first half.
A 15-2 streak that started in the final minute of the first half and spanned five minutes into the second half resulted in a 58-32 lead, Oregon’s largest of the game. USC revived itself with a 12-0 streak to come within 14 points, but it never got any closer.
The Ducks recorded season-highs in shooting percentage at .617 (29-of-47) and three-point percentage at .692 (9-of-13). USC shot 34 percent (23-of-67) for the game.
“I think we’re a good team, and we’re starting to realize how good we can be,” Kraayeveld said. “We have to play with that every night.”