Jamie Hawkins acknowledges that her final game at McArthur Court on Saturday will feel strange.
She spent three years with Boise State, but after transferring to Oregon and sitting out the 2005-06 season, Hawkins has given the Ducks more depth off the bench in her final year.
“I still feel like a newcomer,” Hawkins said. “I haven’t been here for four years like the rest of the girls so it’s going to be a little different.”
Hawkins’ play has improved as Oregon moves closer to the end of the season. She struggled in the early part of the year with traveling near the basket or missing lay-ups, things she attributes to rust and trying too hard.
“Just overall, I’m just getting more comfortable,” Hawkins said. “I’m not as rusty as I used to be.”
Hawkins’ revival also coincided with starter Jessie Shetters’ injury and has helped Oregon offset her absence. It’s not usual to see Hawkins’ final stat sheet list at least seven points and three rebounds as she did at California, at Oregon State, versus USC and at Arizona State. On the season, Hawkins is averaging 4.1 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.3 minutes per game.
“I kind of calmed down and (tried) not (to) be so nervous and kind of let my offensive game come to me,” Hawkins said. “With the coaches, we focused on just going in and doing the little things: like box out or rebound and if you get an open look, then go ahead and take it.”
She’s also unleashed an effective mid-range jumper to complement her offensive game close to the basket.
Shetters a possibility
Shetters, out since suffering a back injury at USC, went through her first intense basketball workout Tuesday.
Shetters and assistant coach Phil Brown said afterwards that there is a possibility she could see limited minutes Saturday.
“That’s like the first real workout I’ve done in over a month,” Shetters said. “It feels good though. It’s just nice to get back out there.”
Brown watched as Shetters worked individually on post moves, short jumpers and free throws. The 6-foot-6-inch Portland native moved smoothly and showed little rust on her jumper near the basket.
Shetters suffered the stress fracture at USC on Jan. 5 and was ruled out for the rest of regular season after an MRI. Even if Shetters has a limited role Saturday, Oregon’s plan is to have her play regular minutes in the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament March 2-5 in San Jose, Calif.
“Certainly, around the basket and finishing, she looks pretty good,” Brown said. “The jumper … the timing is not quite there and there’s a fatigue factor so she wasn’t getting that rhythm in her shot.”
Shetters was having a career year with 5.7 points and 8.4 rebounds in 15 games before the injury required her to miss the last eight games.
“I talked with the doctors and talked with (coach) Bev (Smith) and I think she kind of understands being able to play on Mac Court one more time,” Shetters said.
Brown sees a variety of scenarios where Shetters’ presence could help, whether it’s matchups, her help defense or filling minutes at the end of the first half if teammate Eleanor Haring were to get in foul trouble.
“If we were to get 10 or 12 (minutes), I think we’d be fantastic,” Brown said. “If it’s three or four minutes, the same thing. I think it would just give us that extra player that we can rotate in.”
The 11 a.m. Saturday matchup with the Cardinal on Fox Sports Net also brings 6-foot-3-inch center Brooke Smith and 6-foot-5-inch center Kristen Newlin to McArthur Court.
“It had to be Stanford that I had to play on my senior night coming back – no big deal – on TV, sweet,” Shetters said. “I’m not even looking at who we’re playing. I’m just looking to get out there and hopefully contribute and if not, just cheer.”
Wiggins’ status uncertain
Candice Wiggins sprained her right ankle for the second time this season in Stanford’s 80-54 win over Washington. X-rays afterward were negative for fractures, but she is doubtful for Stanford’s game Saturday with Oregon. Stanford travels to Corvallis Thursday to meet Oregon State.
“I think at this point our sense is that she would be doubtful for Thursday and kind of going on a day-by-day, how she feels, how the swelling is reducing and (her) pain tolerance,” Stanford associate head coach Amy Tucker said. “She thinks she is ready to play, but our training staff does not.”
She added, “Saturday would be questionable but wait and see.”
Tucker indicated Melanie Murphy is likely to fill in at point and the Cardinal will use Cissy Pierce at shooting guard if Wiggins is unavailable.
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