After a rousing second-half comeback by the Oregon women for a 98-92 win over Washington State on Sunday, UO coach Paul Westhead descended to the basement level of McArthur Court to meet with his team.
“I walked in,” Westhead said, “and there was jubilation.”
It was a fitting reaction to a thoroughly entertaining game, and a win that gave the Ducks a sweep of the opening weekend of Pac-10 play for the first time in five years. With wins over Washington and the Cougars, Oregon is 11-3 overall and 2-0 in conference games.
“We just really worked hard this game,” UO point guard Nia Jackson said. “I feel like we all were just really into it.”
Nobody more so than Jackson.
It was clear from the start, when the Cougars threw over the top of Oregon’s press for a 4-0 lead, that both teams were comfortable playing uptempo. Washington State reduced a 17-point deficit to five at halftime, and only when the Ducks went back ahead 73-64 did Westhead try to ease back on the throttle.
Washington State would have none of that. The Cougars mounted a 16-2 charge with 12 points from April Cook, whose three-pointer gave WSU a 76-75 lead and who scored later to make it 80-75.
“We like that pace,” Westhead said. “That team bit … but they bit pretty good. They were coming right at us.”
“They really ran at us, and caught us off-guard, I think,” said UO senior Micaela Cocks, who led the Ducks with 22 points.
With 6:38 left in the game, Westhead brought Jackson back from the bench. She scored 15 seconds later, proceeded to steal the inbounds pass and score again, then fed Cocks for a three-pointer following another WSU turnover.
The Ducks ultimately put together a 13-3 run for an 88-83 lead, with seven points by Cocks and six by Jackson.
The engine that drives Oregon’s fast-break offense, Jackson finished with 20 points, seven assists against one turnover, and five steals.
“Nia Jackson almost single-handedly turned that game around, with her steals and scores,” Westhead said. “She willed it. She made it happen.”
“I just wanted to come out and give our team a spark,” Jackson said. “Play hard. … We just went on a run from there.”
Cook hit her final basket to reach 24 points and made it 94-90.
Cook tied for game-high scoring honors with teammate KiKi Moore, who had two crucial missed free throws in the final two minutes, when Oregon was 8-of-8 from the stripe.
Oregon had six players in double figures, with Taylor Lilley adding 15. Amanda Johnson recorded her fifth double-double of the season — but first since Dec. 2 — with 12 points and 15 hard-fought rebounds in what was a rough-and-tumble game whenever it was played in the halfcourt.
“To get the win, and to beat both Washington teams, we’re just excited and happy,” Jackson said. “And we’re looking forward to the rest of the games in the Pac-10, showing everybody what we’ve got.”
PAc-10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Conference Overall
W L Pct. GB W L
Oregon 2 0 1.000 — 11 3
UCLA 2 0 1.000 — 9 4
USC 2 0 1.000 — 8 5
Stanford 1 0 1.000 1/2 10 1
Oregon St. 1 1 .500 1 9 3
Washington 1 1 .500 1 6 6
California 0 1 .000 11/2 6 6
Arizona 0 2 .000 2 6 6
Arizona St. 0 2 .000 2 8 5
Washington St. 0 2 .000 2 5 8
sunday’s results
Oregon 98, Washington State 92
Washington 69, Oregon State 64
USC 81, Arizona 78, OT
UCLA 74, Arizona State 56
thursday’s games
Arizona at Washington State
Arizona State at Washington
friday’s games
California at UCLA
Stanford at USC
saturday’s games
Oregon at Oregon State
Arizona at Washington
Arizona State at Washington State