Short-Handed Ducks Fall to No. 1 South Carolina

[Charles Fischer]

(The Press Release from Oregon Athletics did not have the final score in it, but Oregon lost 80-63)

 

 

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Playing with just eight players suited up, No. 9 Oregon got out to an early deficit and couldn’t come back against No. 1 South Carolina in the semifinal of the Battle 4 Atlantis Sunday. 

 

“Obviously disappointed with the outcome, but not disappointed with our effort,” said head coach Kelly Graves. “We don’t make excuses. This is the team we had to play with and we made the most of it.”

 

How it Happened: The Ducks dug themselves an early hole in the opening quarter, falling behind 27-14 after one. Despite shooting it at 50 percent from the field, UO turned the ball over seven times with South Carolina scoring nine points off those miscues.

 

The two teams traded buckets for most of the second period, but the Gamecocks closed the half on a 10-2 run over the final three minutes to open up a 44-26 lead at the break. Phillipina Kyei provided a boost off the bench for the Ducks, scoring six points, grabbing three rebounds and blocking a pair of shots in the first half.

 

South Carolina continued to stretch the lead out coming out of halftime, starting the second half on an 11-2 run. The Ducks showed some fight in the middle parts of the third quarter, going on a 13-0 run to cut the deficit to 59-44 with 1:25 to go in the quarter. The teams would trade buckets most of the way to the finish with the Ducks ending the game on an 11-2 run, doing a lot of their damage at the free throw line.

 

Who Stood Out: Four Oregon players scored in double figures, with Kyei and Chanaya Pinto leading the way with 12 points each. Maddie Scherr and Ahlise Hurst each added 10 points while Scherr added five assists and two steals. Kyei also grabbed six rebounds, including five offensive boards, while blocking a pair of shots and coming away with a steal.

 

Up Next: The Ducks close play at the Battle 4 Atlantis with a matchup against No. 23 South Florida in the third-place game Monday at 11:30 a.m. PT on ESPNU.