Oregon and Oregon State enter their Pac-10 Conference women's basketball opener today in Corvallis facing common challenges.
Both the Ducks (6-5) and the Beavers (7-4) struggled to find consistency during nonconference play. Both have only one senior. Both have relied heavily on strong freshmen classes.
And both are approaching the Civil War as a fresh start. With FSN providing a live broadcast, tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at Gill Coliseum, where the Ducks have won three of the last four meetings.
"I think our team the last couple years has looked to play well up there. It's an in-state rivalry and there's a lot riding on that," Oregon coach Bev Smith said. "While it is a rivalry game and there are a whole bunch of subplots, it really does end up being an opportunity to start the Pac-10 season on the right note."
One of those subplots is the emergence of Oregon State senior guard Ashley Allen, a former Duck who leads the Pac-10 in scoring at 20.7 points per game. This will be Allen's third game against Oregon since transferring from Eugene in 2005.
"She's playing at a high level, and we needed that," Oregon State coach LaVonda Wagner said.
Today's game will be the first Civil War for a bevy of freshmen. Of Oregon's six freshmen, five average at least 11 minutes per game.
The Beavers have four freshmen, all of whom contribute regularly off the bench. The battle between OSU freshmen post players Brittany Eskridge and Alex Mitchell against Oregon's four young posts (Nicole Canepa, Ellie Manou, Ellyce Ironmonger and Victoria Kenyon) should be a matchup worth watching for the next four years.
"Oregon is a very good basketball team, and they've got some great young talent," Wagner said. "They have excellent post play."
Canepa and Manou are questionable with injuries, and Smith said both will be game-time decisions. Kenyon is expected to make her first start for Canepa, who sprained her left ankle early in the Ducks' victory over Tulsa in the nonconference finale Dec. 19.
"We're probably going to have a couple people down, but that's part of what the basketball season is about," Smith said. "It's an opportunity for other people to step up."
Oregon State has won three of four, including a 71-52 victory at home over Texas Southern in its final nonconference game.
"Things are going OK, but we'd like to be better," Wagner said. "We're still fighting to figure out who we are."