Ducks Lose Track Of No. 10 Stanford Late

Friday, January 6

Stanford, CA

8:00 PM

University of Oregon

10-5, 0-3

Stanford

13-2, 3-0

Oregon

Stanford

01/06/17 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

Oregon was within single digits of the Cardinal for much of the night before losing Friday on the road.

By: Rob Moseley

STANFORD, Calif. — Oregon welcomed Sabrina Ionescu back from injury Friday night, and perhaps not coincidentally fought gamely with No. 10 Stanford for much of the night before falling 81-60 before 2,723 fans in Maples Pavilion.

How It Happened: The Ducks (10-5, 0-3 Pac-12) remained a threat to the Cardinal (13-2, 3-0) into the second half, until losing steam midway through the third quarter. Stanford scored 10 straight points early in the second half to go up 49-34, which Oregon answered with a 9-1 run capped by a Lexi Bando layin to get within 50-43.

But the Cardinal took a 57-45 lead into the fourth quarter, then opened the period with an 11-2 run for a 68-50 lead. Stanford ultimately led by as much as 23 at 81-58, before UO freshman Morgan Yaeger scored the final points of the game for Oregon.

The Ducks trailed 35-27 at halftime, staying in the game despite shooting 10-of-30 (.333). Oregon held its own on the boards, with Stanford holding a 20-18 edge, and the UO women forced eight turnovers while committing just seven.

Oregon fell into an early 9-2 hole and trailed 11-6 before Ionescu scored and then Justine Hall tied it 11-11 with a three-pointer. Stanford led 18-13 after the first quarter, and was up 28-22 in the second when Hall hit a layup off a steal and then Bando added a free throw and a layup to get Oregon within 30-27. But Alanna Smith scored the final five points of the half for Stanford, including a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Who Stood Out: Mallory McGwire made her second straight start and led the Ducks with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Ionescu struggled to find her scoring touch, shooting 4-of-18, but as usual filled up the stat sheet with 14 points, seven rebounds and eight assists, though also five turnovers. McGwire shot 7-of-15 while the rest of the team went 16-of-53 (.302). The Cardinal paid particularly close attention to Bando, limiting her to six points and zero three-point attempts.

What It Means: Oregon's 0-3 start to conference play is discouraging, particularly with three road games looming in the next nine days. But in the big picture, having Ionescu back in uniform and able to play wire-to-wire was a welcome silver lining.

Quotable:
Head coach Kelly Graves
On his overall impressions
"I was really proud of our effort tonight. Much better than I think we saw last week, which was positive. We tried to be positive after the game and talk about the good things we did tonight. The thing about Stanford, they're just solid. They don't make mistakes. They'd separate, we'd come back and we'd take our foot off the gas. We weren't consistent. We play young a little bit at times, and they don't."

Notable: McGwire's double-double was the second of her young career. … For the first time this season the Ducks started three members of their heralded freshman class — Hebard, Ionescu and McGwire. … Stanford freshman guard DiJonai Carrington is the younger sister of Oregon football wide receiver Darren Carrington II. … Another freshman guard for the Cardinal, Anna Wilson, is the younger sister of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Up Next: The second game of Oregon's current four-game road trip tips off at No. 20 California on Sunday (1 p.m., Pac-12).