EUGENE, Ore. – Blistering shooting in the second half helped Oregon overcome a slow start and remain undefeated, winning its third in a row, an 88-71 victory over Santa Clara on Tuesday night at McArthur Court.

For the third straight game, reigning Pac-10 Player of the Week Nicole Canpea, topped her career high scoring a game-high tying 19 points. The San Francisco native was 9-of-10 from the free-throw line, and added seven rebounds.

Sophomore Amanda Johnson matched Canepa with 19 points, also serving as a new career best for the Santa Rosa, Calif., native. Johnson added a game-high 13 rebounds, recording her second consecutive double-double and the third of her career. She now leads the Ducks averaging 11.7 rebounds per game.

The Ducks have now started the year 3-0 for the first time since 2004-05 season, and have scored 80-plus points in three consecutive games for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

Santa Clara drops to 1-3 on the season.

Senior guard Micaela Cocks chipped in 18 points on a 7-of-14 shooting night from the floor, which included three from long distance.

Sophomore guard Nia Jackson, who played only 14 minutes due to foul trouble, matched a career high and led the Ducks with four assists.

Ducks used an explosive 11-2 run in the opening three minutes of the second half to take a double-digit, 46-33, with 17:19 remaining.

Taylor Lilley, Victoria Kenyon and Johnson each knocked down a three-pointer in the first 1:38 of the second period, and forced Santa Clara in two turnovers and three missed shots.

Santa Clara was led by Megan Fulps’ 16 points, while Alyssa Shoji added 14 along with Ashley Armstrong. Maggie Goldenberger also reached double figures scoring 13 points.

The Ducks rebounded from a cold shooting effort in the first half to shoot 51.4 percent in the second.

The Broncos shot 39.4 percent on the game, and turned the ball over on 21 occasions. The Ducks also had a 48-38 rebounding advantage.

Oregon trailed by as many as eight in the first half as the Ducks shot just 30.6 percent (11-of-36) from the floor, but Oregon used its zone defense and went on an 11-2 run to take a 23-22 lead for the first time in the game on a three-pointer from Cocks with 4:30 remaining in the first half.

Cocks led Oregon at the half with 12 points, while Canepa chipped in nine.

Santa Clara shot 40.6 percent in the first half led by Shoji’s 11 points and three assists.

UP NEXT   
Oregon hosts the World Vision Invitational from Friday-Sunday, Nov. 27-29. The three-day, six-game, round-robin tournament will include Cal State Fullerton, Wisconsin and Portland State. Fans will be able to purchase one ticket for each day, allowing admittance to both games on that afternoon.

BI- Mart will also be sponsoring 2-FOR-1 tickets each day of the tournament. Show your BI-Mart card at the ticket window to purchase two reserved tickets for the price of one.

The Ducks will also be partnering with World Vision’s “Operation Safety Net,” which distributes treated mosquito nets worldwide. Insecticide treated bed nets help prevent the spread of malaria, which is transmitted by a common mosquito that flourishes in more than 100 countries worldwide.  Just a $6 donation will purchase one treated bed net.

During the three-game tournament, World Vision will be on hand at McArthur Court to accept donations toward its cause. If you are unable to make it to the games, you can donate online at www.worldvision.org/endmalaria.

Notes: The teams combined to miss the first seven shots of the game. The first basket was not scored until the 17:38 mark when Santa Clara’s Alyssa Shoji hit a baseline jumper …Micaela Cocks drained Oregon’s first basket at the 16:21 mark…Micaela Cocks has now knocked down a three-pointer in her last 19 games dating back to last season…Nicole Canepa and Micaela Cocks have each reached double figures in three consecutive games…Nia Jackson tied a career-high with four assists …Jasmin Holliday’s nine rebounds tied a career high…Tatianna Thomas And Candyce Flynn scored their first points of the season…Oregon has not won three in a row since Feb. 23 - Mar.7, 2008.