It was Jamie Craighead’s kind of night against the Gaels on Wednesday.
Behind the senior’s treble of three-pointers in the second half, the Ducks were able to storm past St. Mary’s (Calif.) en route to a 72-61 win at McArthur Court in the first round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. It was the team’s first postseason win since the 1998-99 season.
“This one really meant a lot because we finally got that postseason win,” junior Kourtney Shreve said.
With junior Shaquala Williams on the bench in the second half because of an illness, Craighead and Shreve stepped up their game, combining for 16 points. Craighead accounted for three of the team’s five three-pointers in the game, and Shreve kept the crowd in the game with her passing display.
“It was a good game to get us started,” Craighead said.
St. Mary’s (16-13 overall) seniors Jerkisha and Jermisha Dosty led the way for the Gaels in the first half — they combined for 20 points and 11 rebounds — and gave the Ducks a fit under the boards. Their play allowed St. Mary’s to overcome 13 first half turnovers and keep the Gaels within two points at the half.
However, in the second half, Oregon (18-13) was simply too much for the twins.
“They’re pretty good players and we just tried to do the best we could with them,” Oregon freshman Andrea Bills said.
The Dosty sisters finished the game with 41 points and 19 rebounds, but were unable to convert when needed.
Oregon outrebounded the Gaels in the second half, 19-18, including eight key offensive boards. Sophomore Cathrine Kraayeveld had nine rebounds in the half on the way to
11 overall.
If St. Mary’s had the size, the Ducks had the heart and stamina.
“All of (our) posts were getting out on the breaks and making them tired,” Kraayeveld said about Oregon’s resurgence in the second half. “I think that was a key for us.”
Because Oregon was able to get its post players to run the floor on a more consistent basis in the second half, the Ducks’ backcourt was able to get more open shots, as it showed with four three-pointers.
Craighead led that shooting attack and was simply too much for the Gaels. Her first three-pointer of the game, 51 seconds into the second half, ignited the Ducks’ up-tempo offense and started an Oregon 9-4 run in the first four minutes.

With Williams on the bench, Craighead’s shooting prowess was that much more important.
“I just knew there was going to be a few more shots,” Craighead said. “They didn’t go in as much as I would have liked, but I made some that counted.”
She finished the night 3-of-9 from beyond the arc and added two
free throws.
Up 43-40 with 12 minutes left in the second half, the Ducks were able to put some cushion between themselves and St. Mary’s, going on a 13-0 run.
Craighead started the run by nailing a three-pointer, and another by Shreve two minutes later gave Oregon the momentum it had lacked in the first half.
During the run, the Oregon bench played a key role. Junior Alissa Edwards followed Craighead’s three with a fast break layup. Minutes later, Shreve ended the run with an impressive wide-open layin.
“The bench was absolutely wonderful,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “That’s what postseason play is all about. Everyone that played contributed, and whether it was big or small it was a positive.”
The Oregon bench combined to score 19 points for the Ducks, with Edwards leading the way. The guard played 31 minutes and posted five points, including three key free throws during Oregon’s 13 point run.
Oregon is now assured of a second-round berth in the WNIT, although its opponent is still unknown. The Ducks will play the winner of Oregon State-Hawaii, set to be played at 7 p.m. tonight at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis.
The Ducks have seen the Beavers twice this season, with Oregon State winning at Mac Court and Oregon doing the same in Corvallis.
When asked what team they prefer, the Ducks were politically correct and said it doesn’t matter. However, that doesn’t mean they wouldn’t relish a rematch with Oregon State.
“I like playing new teams, but it’s the Beavers,” Craighead said. “It’ll be nice to take them out at McArthur Court where they beat us.”
The Ducks are not assured of playing at Mac Court, but will find out their second-round destination at the conclusion of tonight’s game. The time and date of the game has yet to be announced.