Full Court Press: Scoring At No. 2 In The Nation

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009

Hey there Duck fans. The women’s basketball team is taking this week off from the hardwood – at least as far as games are concerned – in order to turn its attention to finals.

But here is the latest and greatest with the team:

Sophomore forward Amanda Johnson was named Pac-10 Player of the Week yesterday. Just four weeks into the season and the Ducks have garnered two Pac-10 Player of the Week awards - junior Nicole Canepa took the honor on Nov. 23.

National statistics are in as well, and Oregon (8-1) is second in the nation and first in the Pac-10 averaging 89.6 points per game. The only team in the country outscoring the Ducks is Oral Roberts, averaging 93.0 points per game. The Golden Eagles are 6-2, and have hit the century mark three times this season.

But take a look at the list of the top-10 powerhouses Oregon is currently outscoring:

3. Connecticut (89.0 ppg)

4. Ohio State (85.2 ppg)

5. Stanford (85.0 ppg)

6. Texas A&M (84.3 ppg)

7. Baylor (84.1 ppg)

T-8.  Nebraska (81.6 ppg)

T-8. Oklahoma (81.6 ppg)

10. North Carolina (81.6 ppg).

That’s some very prestigious company for the Ducks. In that top-10, four schools (Connecticut, Baylor, North Carolina and Stanford) have combined to win 10 NCAA championships.

Other top-10 national marks for Oregon include:
Category                                 Rank        Number
Three-Point FG Per Game      No. 5        9.4
Assist-to-Turnover Ratio         No. 7        1.21
Scoring Margin                        No. 7        24.7 ppg
Assists Per Game                    No. 8        19.0
Field Goal Perct. Defense       No. 10        33.0 percent
Three-Point FG Defense         No. 10        22.3 percent

Individually, Oregon players are also making their marks on the national stage.

Amanda Johnson’s 11.1 rebounds per game currently rank 15th in the nation, and her five double-doubles on the year tie for fifth in the country.

Senior guard Taylor Lilley’s 3.7 three-pointers per game currently rank seventh in the nation.

Record Watch
Some records are ready to be broken this season, here is what to keep an eye out for:

After knocking down seven three-pointers in last Sunday’s win over Long Beach State, senior Taylor Lilley is coming dangerously close to breaking Oregon’s all-time three-point field goal record. With 179 to her credit, Lilley needs to make just 11 more to top Missy Croshaw’s (1990-94) current record of 189.  Currently resting at fourth all-time, Lilley needs four more treys to pass Jamie Craighead (182, 1998-02) and move into third on the all-time list.

Lilley is also just 46 points away from reach the 1,000-point threshold of her collegiate career. She would become the 21st Oregon women’s basketball player to reach 1,000 points.

Senior guard Micaela Cocks made No. 100 very memorable. Playing in her 100th game last Sunday as an Oregon Duck, Cocks scored a career-high 27 points and became the second player in the history of the program to drain at least five three-pointers and remain perfect (5-of-5) from long distance. If Cocks plays in 16 more games this season, she will crack the all-time top-10 for games played. The New Zealand native’s 137 career three-pointers rank sixth all-time.

UP NEXT
Oregon, now off to an 8-1 start, will finish its non-conference schedule on the road at Georgia Tech (Dec. 16), Wyoming (Dec.20) and Utah (Dec. 22).

The Ducks will return to Mac Court for their Pac-10 opener vs. Washington on Friday, Jan. 1, 2010. Pick up a “Jerry’s 2-for-1” coupon at the Eugene Jerry’s Home Improvement location and get two reserved tickets for the price of one.