WBB | No. 7 Oregon Toughs Out Top Ten Win Over No. 4 Mississippi State

With a tough, gritty performance on Tuesday night in Matthew Knight Arena, No. 7 Oregon women’s basketball knocked off No. 4 Mississippi state 82-74. Sabrina Ionsecu led the way with 29 points, 17 of which came from the line, while Maite Cazorla added 20 of her own. It marks the first non-conference regular season loss for the Bulldogs after 46 consecutive wins. 

In a matchup of the nation’s top scoring offenses, Tuesday’s opening quarter didn’t disappoint. Each team traded baskets back-and-forth with the lead exchanging hands 12 separate times and never growing beyond two points. With guards Maite Cazorla and Sabrina Ionescu leading the way, the Ducks used timely stops on defense and blistering efficiency on offense to build the half’s largest lead of six in the second quarter. But behind a bruising effort on the boards that gave the Bulldogs, the No. 2 team in the country in rebounding margin, a +6 advantage and seven second-chance points off of eight offensive boards, Mississippi State wouldn’t go away. And thanks to three of four free throws that the Bulldogs hit with under a second to go after head coach Kelly Graves was given a technical for arguing a shooting foul, Mississippi State took a narrow 40-39 lead to the break. 

Mississippi State used its momentum from the end of the half to carry them to the largest lead of the game of seven points just minutes into the third quarter. Led by Anriel Howard, who finished the game with 30 points, the Bulldogs grabbed control briefly before the Ducks came screeching back. Ignited by freshman Taylor Chavez off the bench, Oregon ended the third on a 6-0 run to grab the lead back as Mississippi State let its own frustrations get to them with a flurry of turnovers and a technical foul called on head coach Vic Schaefer. With Oregon leading 57-55 to start the final quarter, Ionescu and the Ducks took over from the foul line. The junior just kept driving and taking the free shots at the line, hitting all 17 of her attempts on the night while the defense held on to give Oregon the win. 

GAME STORY (by Alex Castle)

POSTGAME AUDIO

Head Coach Kelly Graves, Guards Sabrina Ionescu and Maite Cazorla