BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA
DUCKS 87 - JACKRABBITS 79
After losing to the previously unranked Michigan State Spartans, the Oregon Ducks Women’s Basketball (8-1) team bounced back with a comeback victory over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits (6-4) in Brookings, South Dakota.
At the half, Oregon found themselves down 45-40 as Madison Guebert and Myah Selland had a combined 30 first half points. Guebert came out especially hot from three-point range, shooting five-of-seven in the first two quarters, and Oregon once again looked soft on defense despite Coach Graves making it clear that more toughness was what the Ducks needed after the loss to Sparty.
Luckily for the Ducks, super sophomore Satou Sabally gave Oregon a complete game, racking up 27 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes of play. Sabally scored Oregon’s first 10 points of the game and kept them within striking distance of the Jackrabbits, even recapturing the lead with a triple with 4:22 left to go in the third. The Ducks did not trail for the rest of the game.
As far as the rest of the starters went, Ionescu was her usual amazing self, scoring 26 points and only a couple rebounds and an assist shy of yet another triple-double. Ionescu’s 11 fourth quarter points helped deliver the win for Oregon and her deep three-pointer with :49 seconds remaining sealed the Jackrabbits fate by giving the Ducks a five-point lead.
Ruthy Hebard was hassled all night but still managed to score double-digits, including an impressive jumper right before the half that held South Dakota State to within five.
Maite Cazorla and Erin Boley were not as effective as in previous games, which lead to freshman Taylor Chavez earning 22 minutes of play. Not only did Chavez grab seven points, she also proved she could play solid defense against speedy competition (be sure to check out her steal/behind the back pass above!)
OREGON DUCKS
*Satou Sabally (26 min) 27 pts - 6 reb - 10/18 FG - 4/7 3PT -3/4 FT
*Sabrina Ionescu (39 min) 26 pts - 8 reb - 9 ast - 10/24 FG - 2/5 3PT - 4/4 FT
*Ruthy Hebard (29 min) 12 pts - 8 reb - 6/9 FG - 0/1 FT
*Maite Cazorla (36 min) 8 pts - 3 reb - 3 ast - 3/6 FG - 2/5 3PT
*Erin Boley (21 min) 3 pts - 1 reb - 1/9 FG - 1/6 3PT
Taylor Chavez (22 min) 7 pts - 1 reb - 2 ast - 3/5 FG - 0/1 3PT - 1/1 FT
Oti Gildon (15 min) 2 pts - 1 reb - 1 ast - 1/2 FG
Lydia Giomi (12 min) 2 pts - 4 reb - 1/1 FG
SOUTH DAKOTA STATE STARTERS
Madison Guebert (35 min) 21 pts - 2 reb - 7/15 FG - 6/9 3PT - 1/2 FT
Myah Selland (24 min) 21 pts - 7 reb - 4 ast - 7/13 FG - 1/2 3PT - 6/7 FT
Macy Miller (36 min) 14 pts - 6 reb - 6 ast - 6/13 FG - 1/2 3PT - 1/1 FT
Tagyn Larson (27 min) 9 pts - 8 reb - 3/6 FG - 0/1 3PT - 3/4 FT
Tylee Irwin (28 min) 6 pts - 4 reb - 1 ast- 2/8 FG - 0/1 3PT -2/2 FT
The No. 7 Oregon Ducks will return home to face Mississippi State. A win at Matt Knight could bring the Ducks back to a top five ranking.
NEXT UP: No. 5 MISSISSIPPI STATE
Dec. 18th, Tuesday, 7 PM, ESPN2, Eugene