Nicole Canepa's roller-coaster season appears to be cresting another hill.
Of Oregon's four freshman forwards, the 6-foot-5 native of San Francisco is handling the late-season rigors of Pac-10 play the best. Perhaps Canepa's ability to peak at the end is owed, ironically enough, to a valley in the middle of the year — an ankle injury that limited her for more than a month.
Since returning to the starting lineup at Arizona State on Feb. 2, Canepa has scored in double figures three times in five games. On Sunday in Oregon's win at Washington State that ended a seven-game losing streak, she had nine points, putting her scoring average over the last five at an even 10 points.
"That's a big thing," UO point guard Tamika Nurse said. "We have to have a weapon inside."
Nurse is one of four veterans on the freshman-loaded roster, and all four play on the perimeter. Without an effective post presence for most of Pac-10 play, Oregon's ability to win was contingent on hot shooting from outside. And as both the UO men and women have found this season, living and dying by the three-point shot is a risky proposition.
But entering today's 7 p.m. tipoff against USC in McArthur Court, Canepa is showing the potential on offense to ease the pressure on the Ducks' guards. Her defense and rebounding aren't yet on par with her scoring abilities, but she is pleased so far with her play as a freshman, despite the hiccup in the middle of the season.
"I've felt that it's been a really good experience," Canepa said. "And I'm very optimistic about what else I can learn as a player."
One lesson she has faced already pertains to dealing with midseason injuries. Canepa started 10 of Oregon's 11 nonleague games, scoring in double figures three of the first six. But in the last, she sprained her ankle on the opening tip and was pulled from the game.
Canepa missed only one other contest, but over the next nine she averaged just 11 minutes. Then, about the time her right ankle finally felt healthy, Canepa developed a corn on her left foot that is pinching a nerve between the two smallest toes. The corn will be removed after the season, but for now Canepa is playing through it.
Last weekend featured moments sure to make her highlight tape. Canepa is Oregon's leading shot-blocker with 14, but eight came in the preseason, followed by just three in the next 13 games. Then, Canepa blocked three in one game Friday at Washington, including an emphatic rejection of a shot by UW guard Emily Florence.
Two days later at Washington State, Canepa illustrated her development on offense. She has been working on drives to the basket in practice, and against the Cougars she blew by a post defender for two points in the second half.
"I can definitely tell that what I do in practice every day is coming in games," said Canepa, who sported a small gash on her lip Tuesday after being elbowed in a workout.
She showed some mental toughness over the weekend, as well. Against the Huskies, Canepa missed four free throws in the second half, and the Ducks went on to lose by one. At Washington State on Sunday, she bounced back to make all three of her attempts.
Until Sunday, Canepa had been shooting 53 percent since returning to the starting lineup. Even despite going 3-of-12 in Pullman, she's making about 46 percent of her shots in the last five games.
"She was starting to really rush her post moves," UO assistant coach Phil Brown said. "Now she's collecting herself, and looking or feeling where the defense is, and then determining what move she's going to make. So she's being more productive because she's making better decisions more frequently."
The numbers haven't been quite as good on the boards. Among the four freshman forwards, Canepa's rebounding average is lowest at 2.4 per game in conference play. She tends to get off-balance, particularly when fatigued, which affects her ability to maintain strong defensive and rebounding positions.
"Some of those things are going to be long-term things with all the post players," Brown said. "Getting back into the weight room and really working on that core ability, that overall body strength, to stay down for longer periods of time defensively."
In the meantime, Canepa tries to use her quickness and height to disrupt the opposition. A jolt of confidence has helped over the last few weeks as well.
"When you're feeling better, you're not battling an injury anymore, you can focus on what you need to do," Nurse said. "And I think when they put her back in the starting lineup, that was a confidence boost, too.
"She's found her way now."