PULLMAN, WASHINGTON

DUCKS 79 - COUGARS 64

The Oregon Ducks (18-1, 7-0) overcame a slow first half performance and defeated the Washington State Cougars (7-12, 2-6) in Pullman. Satou Sabally scored a career-high 33 points and Ruthy Hebard earned another double-double.

After last week’s 31-to-4 first quarter against Arizona, perhaps the Ducks were hoping to plow through another PAC-12 foe. But despite their unimpressive record, Wazzu came into this game ready to make a name for themselves by beating the #5 team in the nation, and for awhile, it appeared that they would be successful.

The Ducks came out flat and shot poorly in the first half, connecting on just 40% of their shots and going 3-of-9 from three-point range. Meanwhile, the scrappy Cougs were not only keeping up with the Ducks, but actually built a 4-point lead going into the half.

Luckily for the Ducks, Sabally was only getting warmed up. After hitting two triples in the first half, the Sophomore drained six more and finished the game with a new career-high in points scored (33) and three-pointers hit (8-of-11).

Ruthy Hebard scored her usual double-double, her eighth of the season, finishing 8-of-11 from the floor and hitting all four of her free throws. Sabrina Ionescu played an underwhelming game for Sabrina Ionescu, meaning she still managed to tally 14 points, seven assists and four rebounds.The rest of the Ducks had a combined 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists.

It’s easy to say that Oregon simply woke up in the second half, a theory that would be supported by the Ducks’ 30-to-12 third quarter, but truth be told, Washington State gave a helluva effort. Borislava Hristova had an especially impressive game as her 29-point game helped her surpass the 1,500 mark.

Ultimately, Oregon’s offensive firepower proved too much for Wazzu, and the Ducks earned their seventh straight win in the PAC-12.

OREGON DUCKS

*Satou Sabally (35 min) 33 PTS - 8 REB - 2 AST - 1 STL - 11/16 FG - 8/11 3PT - 3/7 FG

*Ruthy Hebard (33 min) 20 PTS - 14 REB - 2 AST - 1 BLK - 1 STL - 8/11 FG - 4/4 FT

*Sabrina Ionescu (35 min) 14 PTS - 4 REB - 7 AST - 2 STL - 6/16 FG - 2/5 3PT - 0/1 FT

*Erin Boley (24 min) 3 PTS - 4 REB - 1 AST - 1/4 FG - 1/2 3PT

*Maite Cazorla (32 min) 1 REB - 5 AST - 1 BLK - 0/4 FG - 0/2 3PT

Taylor Chavez (15 min) 6 PTS - 2 REB - 1 STL - 2/4 FG - 2/2 3PT

Lydia Giomi (10 min) 2 PTS - 2 REB - 1/1 FG

Oti Gildon (16 min) 1 PTS - 1 REB - 1 BLK - 1 STL - 0/1 FG - 1/2 FT

WASHINGTON STATE STARTERS

Borislava Hristova (40 min) 29 PTS - 4 REB - 2 AST - 1 BLK - 11/20 FG - 3/5 3PT - 4/4 FT

Chanelle Molina (40 min) 18 PTS - 7 REB - 1 AST - 1 BLK - 1 STL - 7/16 FG - 3/10 3PT - 1/1 FT

Alexys Swedlund (38 min) 14 PTS - 6 REB - 1 AST - 2 STL - 5/11 FG - 2/7 3PT - 2/2 FT

Maria Kostourkova (34 min) 11 REB - 3 AST - 1 BLK - 2 STL - 0/5 FG

Shir Levy (21 min) 3 REB - 1 AST - 0/4 FG - 0/2 3PT

NEXT UP: WASHINGTON

1/27, Sunday, 2PM, PAC-12 NETWORK, Seattle