Young Ducks take first flight at Mac Court tonight

By Rob Moseley

The Register-Guard

Published: Thursday, November 1, 2007

There’s so much for a young team to work on, and not to be overlooked Wednesday was this: The Ducks had to practice how they’ll warm up for games.

The Oregon women’s basketball team will put that work to use for the first time this season in an exhibition game against Western Oregon in McArthur Court today at 7 p.m. It will be the first game action for five of the team’s six freshmen, at least two of which are expected to start.

"We’re not at 100 percent, nor do I think we should be at this time," said Oregon coach Bev Smith, who is about to embark on her seventh season leading the Ducks. "But where we’re pretty good right now is competing, being solid in the trenches, winning the hustle and possessions game.

"I think that’s going to be important, particularly over the next couple of exhibition games, where your execution might not be that great, so you have to make up for it in a lot of different areas."

Tonight brings the first test for a freshman class that will be most heavily relied on in the post. Five of the six freshmen are forwards, comprising all but one of the available frontcourt players on the roster.

The starting lineup is expected to include the 6-foot-5 Nicole Canepa and 6-2 Ellie Manou, both true freshmen. Ellyce Ironmonger (6-4) and Victoria Kenyon (6-1) will be available off the bench. Tatianna Thomas, 5-11, returned to practice Wednesday after being involved in a minor auto accident last week and is expected to dress but not play tonight.

"Their execution is not exactly where it needs to be, but their understanding of how we want them to score and the positions that we want them to be in is there," Smith said. "Now it’s just cleaning that up."

Where defensive rotations are concerned, Smith said, "they’re understanding that they have to be there, but now it’s just execution of getting there with timing."

Oregon’s veterans are in the backcourt, and face an opponent tonight whose strength is on the perimeter. The Wolves, 3-24 last season in coach Greg Bruce’s first year, play an uptempo style and like to shoot three-pointers. Leada Berkey, 5-8, was an NCAA Division II honorable mention all-American last season, when she averaged 21.1 points.

Vanessa Wyffels redshirted last season, after averaging 19.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game at Willamette the year before. Wyffels, at 5-10, as one of Western Oregon’s taller players, with only one standing 6-feet or better.

"They like to get down the floor and shoot the ball early," Smith said. "So they’re going to tax us in terms of our defensive transition, which is great because we really need that.

"It’s going to be a challenge for our post players to get their feet moving and be a part of that."

The Ducks enter tonight’s game relatively healthy, with freshman guard Nia Jackson nursing a thumb injury.