SAINT MARY’S THANKSGIVING CLASSIC

The Oregon Ducks Women’s Basketball team (6-0) defeated UC Riverside (2-5) and Saint Mary’s (3-2) in a sweep of the Saint Mary’s Thanksgiving Classic. Much like when Ruthy Hebard played in Fairbanks, Alaska earlier this year, Sabrina Ionescu was welcomed by her hometown fans from nearby Walnut Creek.

GAME ONE - UC RIVERSIDE

Ducks 94 - Highlanders 44

DATE/TIME: 11/23, 12PM

RECAP: The Ducks scored first and never looked back, building a 52-to-18 lead at the half. Oregon completely shutdown the Highlanders’ offense, holding each of their starters to under five points. UC Riverside never looked comfortable against the tenacious Duck defense which amassed 11 steals and 31 points off turnovers.

The lopsided score allowed the Ducks to sub in their bench early and often, though that didn’t prevent their starters from earning big numbers. Five players had double digits in scoring: Hebard, Sabally, Ionescu, Boley, and Gildon. The Ducks hit 14 of their 30 three-point attempts, spearheaded by Ionescu’s 4-of-8 from downtown. Hebard had an especially impressive game, leading all scorers with 19 points despite playing only 18 minutes.

DUCK BOX SCORE

*Ruthy Hebard (18 min) 19 pts - 5 reb -1 ast

*Satou Sabally (23 min) 17 pts - 5 reb - 2 ast - 1 blk - 4 stl

*Sabrina Ionescu (28 min) 16 pts - 7 reb - 6 ast - 1 stl

*Erin Boley (21 min) 10 pts - 1 reb - 1 ast - 2 stl

*Maite Cazorla (20 min) 8 pts - 4 ast

Oti Gildon (18 min) 12 pts - 3 reb

Morgan Yaeger (26 min) 6 pts - 2 reb - 2 ast - 2 stl

Taylor Chavez (25 min) 6 pts - 2 reb - 6 ast - 1 stl

Lydia Giomi (21 min) 1 reb - 1 stl

GAME TWO - SAINT MARY’S

Ducks 79 - Gaels 55

DATE/TIME: 11/24, 2PM

RECAP: A day after destroying the Highlanders, the Ducks had a much harder time pulling away from the Gaels, though they managed to maintain a healthy 10-point cushion for the large majority of the game.

The contest proved to be much more defensive than the day before, but the Ducks were ready for the challenge. Oregon stole the ball 15 times from a Saint Mary’s offense that couldn’t help but to get in its own way, ending the day with 21 turnovers. And when the Ducks had trouble scoring, the Gaels were unable to take advantage, finishing the game 37.5% from the field and 5-of-24 from three-point range.

Ionescu gave her many fans a show, dominating in the paint once she grew cold from long range (11/20 FG, 3/8 3PT). Sabally came alive in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach for the Gaels. The bench dutifully gave the starters plenty of rest (only Cazorla went over thirty minutes), which will become more and more essential as the season wears on.

DUCK BOX SCORE

*Sabrina Ionescu (30 min) 27 pts - 6 reb - 6 ast - 2 stl

*Satou Sabally (25 min) 13 pts - 9 reb - 6 stl

*Ruthy Hebard (20 min) 11 pts - 5 reb - 1 ast - 1 blk

*Erin Boley (27 min) 8 pts -7 reb - 1 ast - 1 stl

*Maite Cazorla (34 min) 7 pts - 4 reb - 4 ast - 2 stl

Oti Gildon (26 min) 8 pts - 4 reb - 3 ast - 1 blk

Taylor Chavez (25 min) 5 pts - 2 reb - 2 ast - 1 blk - 3 stl

Morgan Yaeger (11 min) - 1 ast - 1 stl

Lydia Giomi (2 min) 2 reb

NEXT UP: LONG BEACH STATE

12/2, 2 PM, LIVE STREAM, Eugene, Or