EUGENE, Ore. — Oregon’s women's basketball team battled through several momentum shifts Friday night to pull away with a 64-57 win over Washington State at Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks (2-0) trailed 36-22 at halftime but came back in the second half thanks to a series of defensive stops and offensive rebounds. Oregon outscored Washington State 24-11 in the third quarter to cut the deficit to one point heading into the final period.
Oregon opened the contest with an aggressive defensive approach, forcing turnovers and establishing an early 9-0 lead. Katie Fiso and Ehis Etute set the tone early offensively, while Mallory Heyer contributed on defense. Washington State gradually settled into the game, using Eleonora Villa’s scoring and second-chance opportunities to close the gap.
The Cougars took control in the second quarter, capitalizing on Oregon turnovers and improved offensive execution. Washington State's Villa led the charge, helping the Cougars build a 36-22 halftime lead. Oregon struggled to find consistency offensively, shooting 25 percent from the field in the first half. Avery Cain opened the 3rd quarter with a three, immediately giving the Ducks newfound life. Washington State responded with some perimeter shooting, but Oregon kept chipping away at the deficit. Brooklyn Haywood, Fiso, and Etute all had points for the Ducks, contributing to their comeback, with Cain hitting a pivotal three to bring them within striking distance. With Oregon cutting Washington State's lead to 47-46 heading into the fourth quarter, the momentum had completely swung to Oregon's side.
The final period was a back-and-forth contest with both teams trading leads. Hilary Fuller of Oregon got the Ducks off to a strong 4th quarter start with a second-chance basket. Haywood and Fiso were both essential in the closing minutes, while Cain hit a vital three with just over 5 minutes left to go, putting Oregon ahead 55-53.
Oregon continued to lean on its defense down the stretch. Fiso added key points at the free-throw line and in the paint, helping the Ducks extend their lead. Ari Long hit a second-chance three-pointer late in the fourth quarter, giving Oregon a seven-point cushion.
Washington State kept at it and cut the deficit to five with just seconds remaining, but Haywood got two free throws to seal it 64-57.
Following the game, Oregon head coach Kelly Graves acknowledged the intensity of the matchup and the narrow margin of victory.
“I hope we don’t always play those one-possession games,” Graves said.
Graves also emphasized the importance of improving Oregon’s ability to draw fouls and attack the basket.
“One of those things I think we can improve on, we didn’t get to the line a lot, and they did,” Graves said. “Right when they attack, they go into the defense, they initiate the contact, and we’re getting the calls. We needed to do a better job of doing that on our end.”
When asked about the multiple momentum swings in the fourth quarter, Graves pointed to defense as the deciding factor.
“We tried to focus on our defense. That’s where it was going to be won,” Graves said. “We’re a really good offensive team. We didn’t really show it tonight, but that’s going to be our staple.”The win extends Oregon's home winning streak against nonconference opponents and marks the Ducks’ 12th consecutive season starting 2-0.
Oregon will be looking to add a third win to their record as they travel for the first away game of the season on Monday, Nov 9th where they will face Grand Canyon. Washington State will be looking to regroup after a tough loss in Eugene.