Oregon Holds Off Wyoming, 51-45
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EUGENE, Ore. - Oregon withstood a last-minute Wyoming
attack and remained undefeated at Mac Court this season with a 51-45
victory on Saturday night.
With two freshmen, two sophomores and one junior on the floor in the closing moments, the Ducks (3-2) held off the Cowgirls (3-3) as an Ashley Sickles three-pointer cut Oregon’s lead to 49-45 with 51 seconds on the clock. Oregon sophomore post Ellie Manou was then fouled, and proceeded to calmly drain two free throws with 28 seconds remaining to seal the win. Oregon finished with three players in double figures, led by freshman Amanda Johnson’s game and career high 13 points. The Santa Rosa, Calif., native also added seven rebounds, four steals and two assists. Micaela Cocks and Ellie Manou added 12 points each, respectively, while freshman Jasmin Holliday made the first start of her career and scored a career-high six points while also crashing the boards for a game-high tying seven rebounds. The Ducks shot just 32.7 percent (17-52) from the floor, but made their way to the line 14 times, converting 13 of those chances. On the flip side, Wyoming was just 4-of-7 in trips to the stripe. Oregon forced a season-high 22 turnovers and held the Cowgirls to a season-low 45 points. Oregon and Wyoming each had trouble scoring starting the second half as a Cocks three-pointer at the 17:05 mark finally ended the drought. Oregon had a slight 25-22 advantage at halftime, led by a balanced scoring attack from the Ducks’ post players; Johnson (9 points), Manou (8 points) and Holliday (6 points). Wyoming had just one lead (11-10, 12:48) in the first 20 minutes, as Oregon forced the Cowgirls into 16 first-half turnovers. The Ducks went on a 15-2 run following Wyoming’s first and only lead, as Johnson scored all of her nine points (2 three-pointers, 1 three-point play) in that time frame. The Cowgirls ended the first period on a 9-0 run to cut their deficit to three. Notes: For the fifth straight game Oregon was without junior guard Taylor Lilley (shin problems) and senior guard Rita Kollo (broken right foot)...the Ducks used their third starting lineup of the season (Micaela Cocks, Jasmin Holliday, Amanda Johnson, Lindsey Saffold, Ellie Manou)...the Ducks’ 47-33 (6:56, second half) lead was their largest advantage in any game this season...Oregon is now 2-0 when leading at the half and 2-0 when playing at Mac Court this season...Oregon now leads the all-time series with Wyoming 2-1... the Ducks held Wyoming’s leading scorer, Emma Langford, to 10 points and eight turnovers...the Cowgirls won the 2007 WNIT Tournament and made the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 2008...this was the second game in six-game stretch for Oregon against opponents that made the postseason last year; South Dakota State (WNIT), Wyoming (NCAA), Montana (NCAA), Georgia Tech (NCAA), Marquette (WNIT champion), Baylor (NCAA). 
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Amanda Johnson led Oregon with a career-high 13 points.
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