It might be early in the season, but the Oregon women’s basketball team made a statement this weekend.
The Ducks defeated Valparaiso on Saturday and No. 9 LSU on Sunday to win the Women’s Sports Foundation Classic at McArthur Court.
Sunday’s 76-67 win over the Tigers was sparked by aggressive defensive play. After taking a 5-4 lead at the 18 minute, 48 second mark of the first half, the Ducks never trailed against a team that advanced to the Elite Eight in last year’s NCAA tournament.
“It’s not so much what we did today, it’s how we did it,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “We played defense the way I think we’re capable of playing defense. I think (the win) gives us a great foundation to build on for the rest of the year.”
Senior Cathrine Kraayeveld was a key factor toward Oregon’s defensive pressure. She finished with nine rebounds and three blocks and was one of the main reasons LSU shot 41.4 percent for the game, including 29.7 percent in the first half.
Oregon built a second-half lead that at one point reached 21 points after several consecutive three-pointers from Kraayeveld. The 6-foot-4 forward finished with 26 points — including 5 of 11 from three-point range — putting her on her way to being named the tournament’s MVP.
“I thought (Oregon) took us out of the things we wanted to do,” LSU head coach Sue Gunter said. “Kraayeveld was unbelievable. (She was) just terrific.”
LSU made things interesting late in the second half when the Tigers implemented a full-court press. The pressure seemed to rattle Oregon and helped cut the Ducks lead to 63-54 with just over four minutes to play.
“I think we got a little flustered by the press,” Kraayeveld said. “We’ve been working on the press, but (LSU’s) is a little different than what we’ve been working on in practice.”
Oregon responded to the pressure when junior point guard Corrie Mizusawa dished to junior center Andrea Bills, who converted a lay-up and was fouled, sending the Mac Court crowd of 3,355 to an uproar. Bills completed the three-point play, giving the Ducks a 66-54 lead with 3:45 left.
Bills finished with 21 points, on 9 of 11 shooting, and grabbed seven rebounds.
Despite quality offensive performances from Kraayeveld and Bills, it was Oregon’s defense that was most impressive. The Ducks held sophomore guard Seimone Augustus to 22 points on 11 of 24 shooting. Last season’s national freshman of the year was constantly hounded by Kraayeveld and other Oregon defenders.
“She’s a tremendous player,” Smith said of Augustus. “I thought we did a really good job of not letting her get out and run. We knew she was going to score on us, but we wanted her to have to work every time.”
Along with Kraayeveld being named tournament MVP, Mizusawa and Bills also earned all-tournament team honors, along with Augustus, Valparaiso’s Katie Boone and Villanova’s Liad Suez.
Oregon also defeated Valparaiso 60-47 on Saturday. Kraayeveld led the Ducks with 25 points, while Mizusawa dished out 13 assists — one short of tying a school record.
The Ducks received a scare late in the first half when Mizusawa landed on her left hand after being called for a charge. She stayed down in pain, but returned to action with a jammed left index finger.
“I thought I might have broken something,” Mizusawa said. “It’s a little sore, but I’ll be all right.”