Lady Ducks Roar Back to Beat Cal 69-66

The Oregon Ducks won a wild game today against the California Golden Bears 69-66. Sabrina Ionescu sink a 3 pointer as time expired to win the game amidst a furious last second comeback. Neither team saw a lead of more than 7 points, but it appeared that the game might be over when Cal took a 5 point lead with 18 seconds left, but not tonight. Oregon was led by Lexi Bando (17 points,) Maite Cazorla (14 points,) Ionescu (13 points/8 rebounds/6 assists,) and Ruthy Hebard (14 points/10 rebounds.) Mallory McGwire was limited by foul trouble to 12 minutes, and Jacinta Vandenberg fouled out with 37 seconds remaining. Cal was led by Kristine Anigwe (20 points/10 rebounds,) and Mikayla Cowling (16 points.)

Anigwe started off the game hot for Cal, scoring 8 of Cal’s 13 points in the half. Oregon was able to hang tough as Bando hit a pair of 3 pointers and 2 free throws in the quarter. Cazorla’s jumper to end the quarter put Oregon up by 1, 14-13.

The Lady Ducks came out cold to start the second quarter, as Cal scored the first 7 points of the quarter to take a 20-14 lead. A pair of Ionescu free throws and a Thomas 3 pushed Cal’s lead to 7. Oregon clawed its way back into the game behind Hebard (5 points in the quarter) and Sierra Campisano (4 points in the quarter.) A 3 pointer by Lexi Bando tied the game at 30 with 27 seconds remaining, but Cal made a last second jumper to take a 32-30 lead into halftime. Oregon continued its cold shooting ways of the last few games, going 37% from the field for the half, while allowing Cal to shoot 50% from the field and 50% from 3. Bando led the Ducks with 11 points, and Hebard put in 7 points and 4 rebounds. Cal was paced by Anigwe (10 points on 100% shooting) and Cowling (10 points on 80% shooting.)

The Lady Golden Bears caught Oregon’s cold shooting, while Oregon caught fire in the third quarter. After trading buckets to start the quarter, Oregon took the lead on Hebard’s jumper with 6:42 remaining in the quarter. Vandenberg (4 points,) Hebard (6 points,) and Cazorla (4 points) closed out the period strong as Oregon took a 51-47 lead into the fourth quarter. Oregon shot 50% from the field and 50% from 3 for the quarter while Cal was 35.7% from the field and 0% from 3.

Cal roared out of the gate in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Ducks 11-5 to take a 2 point lead. The Lady Golden Bears were able to push the lead to 5 points with 18 seconds remaining behind Anigwe and Penina Davidson. And that’s when things started going crazy. Cazorla hit a 3 pointer and Hebard stole the inbounds and dished it to Cazorla for a layup to tie the game up at 66. Cazorla then fouled Thomas with 4 seconds remaining, Asha Thomas missed both free throws, and Mi’Cole Cayton fouled Oregon on the rebound with 2 seconds left. That’s when Cazorla passed the ball to Ionescu at the top of the arc who casually made the 3 pointer for the win as time expired, lifting the Ducks to the win 69-66. Next up the Oregon Ducks play at USC on Friday, January 13th at 8:00 PM.