It’s a place that the Ducks have become familiar with this season.
Down 14 points with 13:22 left in the game, Oregon muscled its way back into the game to take down UCLA 67-65 on Saturday afternoon.
It’s the first Pac-12 home victory for Kelly Graves as the Ducks snapped a six-game losing streak that dates back to their Jan. 5 meeting with the Bruins in Westwood.
Jillian Alleyne made a bucket with 1.8 seconds left on an assist from Lexi Petersen to break the tie and secure the win for Oregon (9-11, 2-7 Pac-12). UCLA missed its last five shots from the field.
“I thought Lexi (Petersen) was going to get it,” Alleyne said. “Once they came off the screen, they went to double her. She threw me the ball and it went in. I was actually really surprised because I thought they were going to double me.”
Alleyne finished with season-highs in 30 points and 25 rebounds (10 offensive), while Katelyn Loper had 17 points on 4-of-12 shooting. Lexi Bando had nine points and five assits.
“I was really, really proud of our basketball team tonight,” Graves said. “The composure with which we played in the last six, eight minutes of the game was tremendous. We played with a lot of heart and guts tonight.”
Alleyne scored the last 10 points for Oregon to ice UCLA (8-12, 4-5).
“This game, we were kind of just like, we’re not going to continue to go down this losing streak,” Alleyne said. “For the first time we were humble and just chill as a team. We were ready for whatever they had.”
Both Loper and Graves said that they rely on past experiences to show they can compete, even facing a large deficit late in the game.
Said Loper: “We fight. That’s our M.O.”
Oregon was down by eight with 5:35 left after UCLA’s Jordin Canada hit a jumper, but then a Bando three-pointer cut the lead to five with 4:16 left. Back-to-back buckets by Alleyne capped off by a three-point play after being fouled tied the game up with 2:00 remaining.
The Ducks outscored UCLA 15-6 in second chance points.
Graves said in his 28 year of coaching at the collegiate level, he’s never had a player step up when needed and post as spectacular of a performance in the process.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had a player have a more impressive performance and then to see her cap it off with the game wining shot was something special,” Graves said.
In addition, Alleyne moved into eighth all-time for scoring with a pair of free throws with 13:33 left in the game. She leapfrogged over Debbie Sporcich (1,404), Debbie Adams (1,412) and Taylor Lilley (1,415).
“I definitely came into this game wanting to prove myself,” Allene said. “Not to UCLA or anybody else, but to coach Kelly (Graves).”
Oregon outscored UCLA 34-23 in the second half behind 15 points from Alleyne after the break.
UCLA had three scorers in double digits: Nirra Fields (15), Corrine Costa (13) and Kacy Swain (12).
Alleyne was just shy of a double-double with 15 points and nine rebounds on 6-of-8 shooting.
Oregon never lead in the first half, with UCLA’s largest first half lead being 11 just before halftime. UO entered the locker room on a 2:48 scoring drought.
“I don’t think (being down) is a spot that scares us like it used to,” Alleyne said. “It’s kind of just like, we’ve been here before and let’s just pick it up.”
Notes:
Drea Toler made her first career start at MKA and her third consecutive since being inserted into the starting five against Arizona State. … The Ducks out-rebounded UCLA 41-34. … Jordan Loera was not on the Ducks’ bench for the game. … UCLA has blown five double-digit leads so far this season, including in its last three games. … Jillian Alleyne’s 20-20 game was the sixth of her career.
USC will come to town Monday for a 5 p.m. tip-off on Pac-12 Networks at Matthew Knight Arena.
Follow Jonathan Hawthorne on Twitter @Jon_Hawthorne
