MISSOULA, Mont. – Oregon held on to its lead late thanks to clutch free-throw shooting and a brave performance in the paint from Nicole Canepa as Oregon defeated Montana 86-81 at Dahlberg Arena on Sunday afternoon.

In the final 3:47, Canepa scored six points, including the bucket that gave the Ducks the lead for good, as she scored a game-high tying and team-leading 18 points, breaking her career high for the second game in a row. The San Francisco native also added nine rebounds.

The Ducks had six players in double figures, led by Canepa and followed by Amanda Johnson’s 17-point and 15-rebound performance. It was Johnson’s second career double-double and a career high on the boards.

Montana took what was just its third lead of the game at 75-74 with 3:59 to go on a Lauren Beck jumper. But Canepa responded just 12 seconds later with an inside bucket, scoring what proved to be the basket that was the game winner.

Canepa added four more points down the stretch and Nia Jackson and Taylor Lilley drained clutch free throws in the final 21 seconds to hold off the Grizzlies.

Montana falls to 0-3 in the season, losing just its third home game in the last three years. The Ducks improve to 2-0 on the young season.

Lilley added 15 points, knocking down three from long distance (all in the first half) and dished out five assists, while Jackson broke three individual career highs with 12 points, six steals and four assists.

Victoria Kenyon added a career-high 11 points and seven rebounds, while Micaela Cocks scored 11 and dished a career-high six assists.

Sarah Ena led Montana with an 18-point, 10-rebound performance as the Ducks’ defense limited the Grizzlies to a 37.8 shooting percentage.

Oregon shot 44.3 percent from the floor, but was outrebounded 49-46, and committed 18 turnovers, one more than Montana’s 17.

Beck (17), Katie Baker (15) and Stephanie Stender (15) also reached double figures.

The Grizzlies took what was just their second lead of the game – the first since their opening bucket - at 51-50 with 13:10 remaining as Beck sank two free throws at the line. The lead was short-lived as Canepa scored inside on Oregon’s following possession.

Montana opened the second half on a 13-6 run, bringing the crowd of 2,746 to a roar, and closing Oregon’s lead to 46-45 with 15:54 to go.

Oregon led 38-32 at the break despite paltry shooting from both squads. The Ducks shot just 39.0 percent (16-of-41) in the first half, but held the Grizzlies to 23.8 percent (10-of-42). Oregon’s offense also faltered committing 12 first-period turnovers.

Johnson set a new career high in the first half with her 12 rebounds, and also added nine points. Lilley knocked down three from long distance in the first 20 minutes, also totaling nine first-half points. Cocks added eight points and four assists.

Montana’s only lead of the first half came on the game’s first possession when Baker scored in the paint to put the Grizzlies up 2-0.
The Ducks took their largest lead of the first half, 31-22, with 5:16 remaining after a 5-0 run was capped with Cocks’ runner in the lane.

Oregon extended its lead to 18-10 with 10:49 to go in the first after an inside bucket from Canepa and a steal and lay-in from Kristi Fallin on Montana’s following inbounds pass.

The Ducks took a 10-4 lead with 15:44 to go after Jackson completed a three-point play and Lilley dropped her first trey of the game.

UP NEXT
The Ducks return to action for four home games next week. Oregon will host Santa Clara (1-2) at 7 p.m., Tuesday at McArthur Court.
Oregon fans that attend Monday’s men’s basketball game vs. Montana, can bring their ticket stub from that contest to Tuesday’s women’s game vs. Santa Clara on Tuesday, and receive free general admission.

Oregon will then host 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: Montana entered the game with a home record of 422-39 at Dahlberg Arena in head coach Robin
Selvig’s tenure…Oregon leads the all-time series 11-3…Jasmin Holliday returned to the floor for Oregon after a 10-day absence…the Ducks snapped a five game road losing streak…Kristi Fallin scored her first points as an Oregon Duck with a steal and lay-in with 10:49 left in the first.