PORTLAND -- Perhaps in two or three years, it will all be perfect passes and swished jumpers.
For now, the Oregon women's basketball team isn't getting many style points. The Ducks are playing a survival game as nine underclassmen come of age and Pac-10 play draws closer.
On Saturday the Ducks were fittest. There was another slow start, although this one couldn't be blamed on turnovers, which were only a problem early in the second half. Those allowed UC Santa Barbara to take a brief lead, but Oregon clamped down on defense and fought its way to the free-throw line to beat the Gauchos 65-56 before 11,447 at the Rose Garden for the Papé Jam.
In the absence of consistent offensive execution, a troubling trend so far this season, the Ducks found other means of victory.
"I think our team grew up a little bit today," UO coach Bev Smith said.
A one-point halftime lead should have been double digits if not for five missed layins. The Ducks (5-3) then outdid their first-half turnover total -- six -- in the first nine minutes of the second half, and allowed UCSB (3-5) to score on seven of its first nine possessions. A jumper by Chisa Ononiwu, who led the Gauchos with 16 points, gave them a 37-34 advantage.
But Oregon held UCSB scoreless on its next five trips, and scored three points three different ways on three straight possessions to reclaim the lead for good.
Ellie Manou made one free throw and put back her ensuing miss, Ellyce Ironmonger scored and added a free throw, and Taylor Lilley's lone three-pointer of the game put the Ducks back ahead to stay, 43-37.
"We had pressure," said Ironmonger, one of six UO freshmen. "We didn't really cave under the pressure. We just kept fighting."
Oregon has fought back for wins following each of its three losses this season, and is 3-0 against UCSB over the last two seasons. Ironmonger posted her second straight double-double, with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Manou and Kaela Chapdelaine added 14 and 11 points, respectively, each going 8-of-10 from the free-throw line, where the Ducks scored 16 of their final 22.
Chapdelaine also had seven assists to lead Oregon for the third straight game. She and Lilley, the team's best scoring threat who is being hounded by opposing defenses, repeatedly penetrated the post with passes, though they weren't always finished.
Ironmonger missed layins on her first two chances early in the game, but only one other shot the rest of the way. She also contributed to UCSB grabbing just six offensive rebounds, after the Gauchos had 25 in their previous game.
Ironmonger scored 10 of Oregon's final 14 before halftime, as the Ducks recovered from their early shooting woes to take the lead. The Gauchos' best post player, Jenna Green, missed the game due to a back injury, and with Green out and the Gauchos keying on fellow freshman post Nicole Canepa, Ironmonger took advantage.
"She's strong for us right now," Chapdelaine said. "So of course we're going to look in to her."
The Ducks' struggles at point guard were exposed again after halftime, as starter Tamika Nurse and backup Micaela Cocks each committed two turnovers during the Gauchos' run into the lead. UCSB employed a full-court defense that Oregon had trouble cracking. But by improving their own defense and cutting back on UCSB's made baskets, the Ducks eliminated opportunities for the Gauchos to press.
"It was just a fantastic defensive job," Smith said. "And I just said 'Hey, you have to believe in our offensive system as well.'"
Oregon's best weapon down the stretch was free throws, after the missed layins before halftime and turnovers after. A nice reverse layin by Lilley was an exception, and she also passed down to Manou for a basket. Despite those graceful plays, Smith used terms like "grit" and "street savvy" to describe the Ducks' effort.