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Oregon women's basketball crushed on the road against No. 2 UCLA Bruins

alec dietz, eugene register-guard
·2 min read
Oregon center Phillipina Kyei (15) is defended by UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) and forward Angela Dugalic, right, during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
Oregon center Phillipina Kyei (15) is defended by UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) and forward Angela Dugalic, right, during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

The Oregon women’s basketball team was dominated on the glass, in transition, and throughout its Friday matchup against No. 2 UCLA on the road at Pauley Pavilion, dropping its second straight Pac-12 game, 75-49.

Without point guard Chance Gray – who sat out the game in concussion protocol – the Ducks (9-6, 0-2 Pac-12) got off to an abysmal start, scoring just four points in the first quarter. Oregon trailed 37-17 at the half and was held to 8-for-25 shooting from the field, were outrebounded 28-9, and were outpaced on the offensive glass, 13-0.

By game’s end, Oregon was outrebounded 46-27, and allowed 21 offensive rebounds and had just one of its own. The Bruins took 32 more shot attempts.

Oregon guard Kennedi Williams, bottom left, is double-teamed by UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) and guard Londynn Jones (3) during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
Oregon guard Kennedi Williams, bottom left, is double-teamed by UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) and guard Londynn Jones (3) during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

“We’re not good enough compared to UCLA right now to make up for those kinds of mistakes,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. “That was disappointing. Disappointed that we lost, but not in our effort. We played pretty hard and we had some players that played pretty well.”

On top of that, Oregon turned the ball over 19 times and UCLA scored 26 points off those giveaways. The Ducks’ offense was much improved in the second half, shooting 50% from the floor, but the Oregon defense couldn’t muster a stop to get the game within striking distance.

UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) reacts after drawing a foul call against Oregon during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.
UCLA center Lauren Betts (51) reacts after drawing a foul call against Oregon during the first half of the game in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 5, 2024.

Phillipina Kyei led the Ducks with 14 points and seven rebounds as the only Oregon player in double figures, though 10 Ducks found the scoring column in a lopsided game. UCLA had four players finish in double figures, led by Angela Dugalic’s 17 points and nine rebounds. Lauren Betts had 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 15 minutes for the Bruins.

Oregon will face No. 9 USC at noon Sunday at the Galen Center in Los Angeles.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Pac-12 women's basketball: Oregon Ducks have big loss to No. 2 UCLA