Duck Sports Authority - WBB: Ducks dominate the Raiders

November 4, 2009

Alicia Hankins
Duck Sports Authority Staff Writer

Coach Paul Westhead and his run-and-gun offensive style of play helped the Oregon women's basketball team put up 109 points against Southern Oregon University, and that was without senior guard Taylor Lilley who sat out with a sprained right ankle.

Oregon held the SOU Raiders to only 47 points in its first exhibition game of the 2009-2010 season Tuesday night at McArthur Court.

Oregon came out strong and aggressive, forcing SOU turnovers left and right with tight man-to-man defense. The Ducks put on a full court press early and were able to easily contain the Raider guards and capitalize on their turnovers.

"I was very pleased with some of our defensive full-court pressure and they (the players) know and I know that we can really get better at that," Coach Westhead said. "We scrambled, we caused some turnovers, and we were just decent, okay at it. Our reads and our traps can and will get better."

Coach Westhead's up-tempo offense didn't seem to be a problem for the Ducks as they were able to beat SOU up and down the floor and make transition shots and attack the hoop aggressively. He said he was happy with how they ran the offense today but that they can run it better.

Senior guard Micaela Cocks, who led all scorers with 22 points, said, "Offensively we didn't get a lot of the options we get in practice, so I think we need to do that better." The New Zealand native made 50% of her field goals and was 2 for 6 beyond the arc.

Sophomore forward Jasmin Holliday had her first double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds on 50% shooting. She also had five assists and was 4-4 on free throws. Holliday felt that the conditioning in practice has really paid off. "I think we're right where we need to be stamina-wise."

Sophomore forward Amanda Johnson chipped in 19 points, 7 rebounds, 9 steals, and 5 assists.

Redshirt sophomore guard Nia Jackson played in her first game after tearing her anterior crucial ligament (ACL) during the team's international tour of Italy in September 2008. She had 15 points and 3 assists on the night. She said the full-court press and aggressive man-to-man defense helps to maintain the tempo set by the new offense. "We're constantly moving, constantly having to be alert and on the go. It really has you thinking a lot and reacting quickly," she said.

Oregon pulled down an astounding 62 rebounds, 27 of them being offensive. "I was very pleased," said Coach Westhead. "Sometimes you can go a season and not get that many."

The Ducks may have put up triple digits, but they still had their fair share of mistakes. Oregon had 24 turnovers on the night. Coach Westhead said he's not a fan of turnovers and felt that Oregon had too many. Cocks agreed saying, "Obviously there were too many turnovers but I think we're adjusting to the new system."

On the flip side, Oregon's defense caused the Raiders to commit 45 turnovers-a number that's only two shy of the number of points SOU scored against the Ducks.

Oregon out rebounded SOU 62-39 and held advantages in assists (23-8), field goal percentage (47%-23%) and steals (29-6).

For the Raiders, junior forward Krystal Smith had 13 points and 8 rebounds and senior forward Jacki Speer had 10 points and 8 rebounds.

Looking ahead, the lady Ducks play their second exhibition game Sunday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. at Mac Court.

FEATURED PRODUCT