This is no time to be civil.
Oregon comes off one of the closest defeats in the nation this season as the Ducks competed in one of the most intense games of their college careers.
And Oregon State can’t forget the buzzer-beater by junior Cathrine Kraayeveld with 4.4 seconds left, after the Ducks rallied from 12 down to knock off the Beavers 50-48 in the second round of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament last year.
Last February, prior to the tournament, the Beavers received another blow from Oregon as senior Edneisha Curry hit a 10-foot bank shot with 1.8 seconds left in overtime to give the Ducks a one-point victory.
In the last two matchups of the Civil War, in a total of 80 minutes of basketball, all that seems to matter is 6.2 seconds. And after Oregon’s last-second loss to Stanford last week, this game could be downsized to a matter of mere moments.
“That game against Stanford is getting us pumped for the games ahead, and what better game to go into after that than OSU,” sophomore Amy Taylor said. “We are confident yet knowing we have to play like we have by working hard, making stops on defense. It’s going to be a really good chance for us to get back on a winning note.”
Oregon (6-9, 2-4 Pac-10) will face off with Oregon State (8-7, 2-4 Pac-10) at Gill Coliseum Saturday night with both teams trying to gain some kind of conference edge.
The Ducks have won 13 of the last 14 in the rivalry, including six in a row in Beaver territory. Oregon State has not had a victory over Oregon at Gill Coliseum since Jan. 5, 1996.
“As a player, you know you have to prepare for war, and it is exciting both ways,” Oregon head coach Bev Smith said. “Our players are going to make it exciting for us as a coaching staff.”
Oregon lost in Eugene last year to Oregon State, as the Beavers cracked the Ducks’ 11-game win streak with a 61-53 wake-up call.
This season, the Beavers had a very strong start, winning three out of their first four. Yet, prior to a win over Cal last weekend, Oregon State had lost four straight in conference play.
The Ducks have not fared well either, losing three out of their last four Pac-10 games. But the statistics prove to be in Oregon’s favor, as they have won 40 of their last 44 games against the Northwest schools.
It may be tough for the Ducks to continue their streak in Corvallis, because the Beavers will be ready. They have a 9-2 record at home this season.
“It’s going to be a tough game,” senior Alissa Edwards said. “We are going in anxious to play again. After that loss… it was a tough loss but it built our confidence and we’re ready to play. We need a win to get going again and move ourselves up in the Pac-10.”
Oregon averages almost seven more points per game than Oregon State, but the Ducks allow more than 18 more points to be scored on them.
Oregon State averages more rebounds and steals per game, but Oregon’s 43 percent field goal percentage is better than the Beavers’ 39 percent.
But the past proves that numbers don’t matter when it comes to a rivalry of this nature. And the 69th tipoff might not be so crucial either.
The exciting part is likely to come in the last 10 seconds.