By Hank Hager
Oregon Daily Emerald
You just can’t get any better than Shaquala Williams.
The junior guard’s 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists led the Ducks to a 88-47 win over Washington State in Pullman on Thursday.
Williams was perfect against the Cougars, shooting 9-of-9 from the field, including four from beyond the three-point arc.
“Both Jamie (Craighead) and Shaquala were into some good space and didn’t force anything,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith told KSCR radio after the game. “They allowed the team to create some shots for them and at the same time, created shots for themselves.”
Oregon (15-11 overall) made a statement to the NCAA Tournament selection committee with their 10th conference win of the season, and sent Washington State closer to the first winless conference season in Pacific-10 Conference history.
In their 12th victory in the last 14 games against the Cougars (2-25, 0-17 Pac-10), the Ducks played their best game of the season.
“We’ve got to get some wins to get a good seeding in the Pac-10 Tournament,” freshman Kedzie Gunderson said.
On Jan. 22, 1987, Oregon defeated the Cougars 101-55 in Pullman, the Ducks’ last win of more than 40 points. This year’s version was not much different.
The Ducks were 10-of-15 from beyond the arc, only two short of a team record. They made seven in the first half, the fourth time they’ve done that this season.
But more important, it was a total team effort for Oregon against the Cougars. All 12 players scored, with Craighead finishing second to Williams’ 24 points with 13 of her own.
“We had outstanding energy at the beginning of the game,” Smith said. “We were very sharp, and I thought we shot the ball very well.”
Shooting well would be an understatement. At 56 percent from the field, the Ducks set a season high. Williams was perfect in her shooting, and Craighead was not much worse at 5-of-6. Even the charity stripe treated Oregon well, as Duck sharpshooters were 12-of-17.
Gunderson, playing in her first collegiate game in her home state, came off the bench and set a career high with 12 points. She also collected seven rebounds.
“Going home is always a good point in time,” she said.
Senior Edniesha Curry, playing in a lesser role, finished with six points. But her nine assists led the Ducks’ barrage of 26, and was only one under her career high, set when she played for Cal-State Northridge.
“When we get anything over 14, 15 assists, we’re playing good team basketball,” Smith said. “Twenty-six assists is just a team that is playing well together.”
With two runs of nine or more points, the Ducks were able to jump out to a large lead at halftime, 49-23. Oregon was 7-of-9 from beyond the arc, and shot better than 60 percent in the half.
The second stanza was not much different as Williams took control early on. Her three-pointer and two jump shots sent the Ducks to a seven-point run in the first two minutes. From that point on, it was smooth sailing for Oregon.
With the win, the Ducks have given themselves a better chance to earn a possible fourth seed in the conference tournament. Oregon State defeated Washington 73-71 in overtime to create a three-way tie for fourth place.
USC and Oregon State are also 10-7. If Oregon can defeat Washington on Saturday, and if USC loses to Stanford this coming weekend — as they are expected to — the Ducks could even finish tied for third.
Of course, that would be a four-way tie for the spot as the Beavers are expected to defeat Washington State on Saturday and the Trojans will probably do the same to California.
Welcome to the wild world of the Pac-10.
“When you’re playing against teams like Oregon State that have a little bit of pizzazz, I think it turns into really good women’s college basketball,” Smith said. “It’s really gearing up and is indicative of what’s going to happen at McArthur Court for the Pac-10 Tournament (next week).”