WBB recap: Ducks end losing skid with upset win over Arizona
It was bound to end sometime.
The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team was finally able to put its seven-game losing streak in the history books with a 73-59 upset over No. 14 Arizona.
Te-Hina Paopao led the way with 21 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 5-of-8 from three-point range. Oregon has been waiting for its starting point guard to play like she’s capable of and in these last two games, Paopao has played like the five-star recruit she once was.
With the win, the Ducks improve to 15-13 and 6-11 in Pac-12 play. But more importantly, the win over the Wildcats is a nice resume for the NCAA tournament. Oregon will end the regular season on Saturday against ASU before heading down to Las Vegas for the conference tournament.
Endyia Rogers added 18 points and Chance Gray poured in 12 points on four threes.
Final Score: Oregon 73, Arizona 59
Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK
Keys to the game
Oregon began the game in a 2-3 zone, daring Arizona to shoot threes and make the Ducks go out of the zone. It never quite happened, however. The Wildcats were 3-of-12 from long range in the first half and — for the game.
Turnovers have been a problem in this seven-game losing streak. But the Ducks, at least for one night, solved that problem. Oregon committed just — miscues for the game.
It was a 23-23 tie midway through the second quarter until the Ducks went on an 11-0 run to claim a 34-23 lead and eventually a 40-30 halftime lead.
Oregon held a 16-point lead in the third quarter, but Arizona went on a 12-2 run and cut that deficit to six. Fortunately for the Ducks, Chance Gray’s three-pointer at the buzzer gave them a 57-49 lead and more importantly, it gave them momentum back.
Momentum didn’t last long as the Wildcats went on a 7-0 run to begin the fourth quarter and it was on like Donkey Kong. But the Ducks responded with a run of their own and managed to put Arizona away.
Paopao hit a couple of her threes in that fourth quarter and those shots just deflated the Wildcats and any hopes they had of a late rally.
It's on the stat sheet
Te-Hina Paopao: 21 points, 6-10 FG, 5-8 3-pt FG
Endyia Rogers: 18 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists
Chance Gray: 12 points, 4-7 3-pt FG
Phillipina Kyei: 9 points, 14 rebounds
Cate Reese (Arizona): 19 points, 5-17 FG
Oregon: 10-24 3-pt FG
What's next?
Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic
Oregon ends its regular season with Arizona State on Saturday scheduled for a noon tip on the Pac-12 Network. The Sun Devils are coming off their first win in 17 games with a 75-73 win over Oregon State.
