WBB: Defensive Effort Pushes UO to 4-0

[Charles Fischer]

EUGENE, Ore. — With the Oregon women’s basketball team hitting the court at Matthew Knight Arena less than 40 hours after its upset win over Baylor on Sunday night, a defensive letdown might have been expected.

But that was certainly not the case Tuesday against defending American Athletic Conference champion North Texas, as the Ducks defense swarmed the Mean Green in a 66-35 win before 4,344 fans.

“We were ready to play,” said head coach Kelly Graves. “We defended really well in that first half, to me, that means our experience won out. They were ready … that’s a veteran team that can do that. Let’s face it, that was a huge game the other night.”

The defensive end carried Oregon (4-0) in the first half, as the Ducks allowed just nine points and four made field goals over the game’s first 20 minutes. North Texas was forced into 11 turnovers and 10.5 percent shooting (2-for-19) in the half, while the Mean Green were held without a basket in the second quarter (0-for-8 FG).

“They scored a field goal on their first possession and then they just got one more the rest of the half,” added Graves. “When you’re only allowing two field goals in a half, that’s getting it done.”

After starting the game 1-for-6 from the floor, the Ducks offense gained traction in the latter part of the first quarter and into the second. UO shot 50.0 percent after missing its first five shots of the game, opening a 27-9 lead at the break. The nine points allowed in the half marked the fewest given up by UO in any half in program history.
 

Nani Falatea and Elisa Mevius, both coming off the bench, each posted a team-leading 11 points in the game. Falatea knocked down three 3-pointers while Mevius added a pair of triples to go with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals. Oregon’s bench accounted for 42 of its 66 points in the game.

“When your two leading scorers are coming off the bench, that’s impressive. But that’s how it’s going to be all year long,” Graves said.

“That’s one of our key things that we’ve talked about as a team in the beginning of the season,” said Falatea. “It’s not going to take one or two people, it’s going to take everybody and with that comes unselfishness."

How It Happened: The Ducks missed their first five shots of the game before a Sarah Rambus jumper dropped just over four minutes into the game. Rambus’ bucket sparked an eight-point Oregon run, as the Ducks closed the first quarter by scoring 14 of the last 16 points to take a 14-4 lead.

Sofia Bell and Mevius each hit a 3-pointer and finished with four points in the frame, with Mevius converting on a four-point play after being fouled on her triple. UO’s defense limited UNT to 2-for-11 shooting in the first.

The Ducks offense clicked at a 50.0 percent pace in the second quarter, outscoring the Mean Green 13-5. UNT was held without a field goal in the period (0-for-8), with its only points coming from the free throw line (5-for-8).

Falatea logged a team-best five points after hitting both of her field goals, including a 3-pointer. Ten Ducks got into the scoring column in the first half while the defense allowed just nine first-half points for a 27-9 edge headed into the locker room. UNT was forced into 11 turnovers while shooting just 10.5 percent from the floor (2-for-19).

The Ducks pushed their lead to 25 after the third quarter, 46-21. Six players scored in the third, with Mevius connecting for five points without missing a shot. North Texas went 4-for-15 from the field, and had just six made field goals in the game’s first 30 minutes.

 

The Oregon bench accounted for 18 of its 20 points in the fourth quarter, getting six from Falatea and three from Sammie Wagner. A 12-4 run midway through the fourth inflated UO’s lead to its largest of the day at 31 points, 58-27.

UO went 8-of-18 from the floor while holding UNT to 6-for-15. North Texas’ six made field goals were good for half of its game total, which tied for the fewest made field goals by an opponent at Matthew Knight Arena.

Notable: Ehis Etute returned to the team after missing the season’s first three games due to international team obligations, but did not play … The nine first-half points allowed were the fewest given up in any half in program history … North Texas’ 12 made field goals tied for the fewest given up by the Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena and were the fewest allowed overall since Portland State made 12 on March 22, 2019 … The Ducks begin the season 4-0 for the seventh time under Graves and picked up their 68^th win over their last 70 home nonconference games … The game marked the first-ever between Oregon and North Texas.

Up Next: The Ducks host Grand Canyon on Monday (6 p.m., B1G+).

 

[30Duck]

9 points. Anytime an Oregon team, does something the Sabrina, Ruthy, Satu team didn't, that's something. Especially on the defensive side after beating Baylor.