The Oregon women’s basketball team earned sixth place in the Pacific-10 Conference Saturday – but it was not the way they hoped.
By losing 61-46 to Washington Saturday in Seattle, Oregon (16-12, 8-10 Pac-10) needed help from California (22-7, 12-6) to avoid a first-day game in the upcoming Pac-10 Conference Tournament. California came through with an 88-69 triumph over UCLA (13-17, 7-11) and gave the Ducks an extra day of rest, setting up a rematch between the Ducks and the Golden Bears next Saturday at 11 a.m. in San Jose, Calif.
The last time the two teams met, less than two weeks ago at McArthur Court, Oregon overwhelmed California in a 62-42 blowout.
Oregon would have liked to go in with more momentum, but in a televised contest and the final home game for Washington’s seven seniors, the Ducks showed little urgency or cohesion on offense.
“I just thought we lacked energy, both mentally and physically,” coach Bev Smith said in a broadcast interview.
The Ducks shot just 31.8 percent in the first half on 7-for-22 from the field and just 35.4 percent for the game. Oregon, the leading three-point field goal percentage shooters in the Pac-10, made just 2-of-7 from long-range Saturday.
Kaela Chapdelaine and Eleanor Haring tied for the team lead with 10 points apiece.
Point guard Tamika Nurse returned to the starting lineup, two days after Micaela Cocks started in her place against Washington State for what Smith felt was a lack of effort in practice. Nurse responded with nine points, but had three turnovers and no assists.
Center Jessie Shetters sat out after a seven-minute stint against Washington State, which aggravated her nagging back injury. Both teams had 39 rebounds, but Shetters’ absence was likely felt on the offensive boards, where Washington had 17 rebounds to Oregon’s nine.
Reserve Jamie Hawkins kept up her torrid play in the Pac-10 with seven points and eight rebounds.
“J-Hawk has been a really strong presence for us through the last half of the Pac-10 season and I’m really happy for her because I think she’s gleaming some satisfaction out of it,” Smith said.
Turnovers dominated the game – Oregon had 24 to Washington’s 10 – and the Huskies took advantage early, capitalizing on the Ducks’ miscues and jumping out to a 13-4 lead on Cheri Craddock’s jumper. Nurse’s two free throws brought the Ducks within 22-17, but Jill Bell and Dominique Banks scored a basket each for a 26-17 Washington edge.
Hawkins had two free throws and Haring hit a jumper from the free throw line to cut Washington’s lead to five at halftime, 26-21.
In the second half, Haring dished the ball underneath the basket to an open Chapdelaine in the corner for a three-pointer to bring Oregon again within five. Washington snagged control and the momentum from there, gritting their way to second-chance scores in a 14-to-4 run and a 49-34 lead.
“(Oregon is) a team that has a little bit of heart and a little bit of conscience and I know they don’t feel too great about this game today,” Smith said.
Washington strengthened its case for a berth in the NCAA Tournament with its 18th overall win and 11th in conference play. Cameo Hicks had 13 points for the Huskies.
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