EUGENE, OREGON

DUCKS 89 - HUSKIES 47

A week after pulling off a historic upset of Team USA, the #1 Oregon Ducks turned in a solid performance against the Northeastern Huskies to kickoff the 2019-20 regular season with a 89 to 47 victory.

Perhaps the Ducks were still dazed by their big exhibition victory, because they got off to a slow start in their first regular season game of the season. Oregon shot well below their typical standard, finishing at 47.2% from the floor and 25.7% from three-point range, especially in the first quarter where they shot 3-of-14 from three-point land and only managed to muster a 16-9 lead over the visiting Huskies.

However, things seemed to click back into place for the Ducks in the second, starting with a 16-point run and finishing the quarter outscoring their opponent 31 to 13. The second half quickly fell into practice mode as Coach Kelly Graves was not shy about getting as many players experience as possible. The shooting may have been off for the Ducks, but their defense dominated throughout, tallying 21 turnovers and 13 steals.

OREGON DUCKS

*Ruthy Hebard (26 min): 21 PTS - 1 AST - 12 REB - 2 BLK - 2 TO - 10/11 FG - 0/0 3PT - 1/2 FT

*Sabrina Ionescu (32 min): 12 PTS - 6 AST - 8 REB - 2 TO - 2 STL - 3/9 FG - 2/7 3PT - 4/4 FT

*Erin Boley (23 min): 10 PTS - 1 AST - 2 REB - 1 STL - 4/15 FG -2/10 3PT

*Minyon Moore (29 min): 9 PTS - 10 AST - 6 REB - 3 STL - 1 BLK - 2 TO - 3/4 FG - 1/2 3PT - 2/3 FT

*Taylor Chavez (18 min): 4 PTS - 3 REB - 3 STL - 4 TO - 1/3 FG - 0/2 3PT - 2/2 FT

Lydia Giomi (19 min): 18 PTS - 1 AST - 9 REB - 2 STL - 8/10 FG - 2/2 FT

Holly Winterburn (22 min): 6 PTS - 3 AST - 3 REB - 1 STL - 2 TO - 2/9 FG - 1/5 3PT - 1/2 FT

Jaz Shelley (17 min): 6 PTS - 3 AST - 1 STL - 1 TO - 2/9 FG - 2/7 3PT

Morgan Yaeger (7 min): 3 PTS - 1 REB - 2 TO - 1/2 FG - 1/2 3PT

Lucy Cochrane (7 min): 1 AST

NORTHEASTERN HUSKIES

*Stella Clark: 12 PTS - 4 AST - 3 REB - 1 STL - 7 TO - 5/22 FG - 2/9 FT

*Ayanna Dublin: 8 PTS - 1 AST - 4 REB - 1 STL - 3 TO - 3/5 FG - 2/2 FT

*Shannon Todd: 7 PTS - 3 REB - 1 STL - 1 TO - 3/9 FG - 1/2 3PT

*Alexis Hill: 4 PTS - 2 REB - 2 STL - 1 TO - 2/4 FG

*Kendall Currence: 4 PTS - 3 REB - 1 STL - 2 TO - 1/4 FG - 0/2 3PT - 2/2 FT

Ruthy Hebard once again dominated the paint, finishing with a game high 21 points and 12 rebounds for her 40th double-double, but it was the much improved play of Lydia Giomi from the bench that bodes especially well for the future.

Satou Sabally will miss the first three games of the season due to her role on the German national team and that has opened up some room for some experimentation. Giomi may not have started, but she earned 18 minutes of playing time and frequently shared the floor with fellow big Hebard to great success - the duo finished 18 of 21 from the field.

It seems like the 3x3 tournament in the offseason did Lydia Giomi good, because she has looked like a different player in her last couple of outings. Giomi’s nine rebounds and career-high 18 points were a product of her hustle down the court and a drastically improved finishing touch under the basket. The combination of Hebard and Giomi present a clear size advantage against most teams, but perhaps more importantly Giomi’s recent improvement could result in more resting time for Hebard once Sabally returns.

Sabrina Ionescu and Minyon Moore appeared to be at midseason form as both were eager to push the tempo. Moore has already made a big impression with her tenacious defense and attacking mentality, and even in a quiet night Ionescu flirted with another triple-double. Taylor Chavez struggled in her attempt to fill in for Sabally, turning over the ball four times and scoring only four points.

Holly Winterburn and Jaz Shelley recorded their first points as Ducks and Lucy Cochrane didn’t score but made her collegiate debut.

NEXT UP: Utah State

11/13, Wednesday, 6 PM, Eugene