Written by: Rob Moseley, GoDucks.com
EUGENE, Ore. — Facing one of the most talented players in the country, Oregon’s depth and versatility continued to pay dividends Saturday.The UO women (11-4, 2-2 Big Ten) had four players in double figures as the Ducks beat Wisconsin on Saturday at Matthew Knight Arena, 68-52. Badgers big Serah Williams, the reigning Big Ten defensive player of the year who was averaging 19.2 points per game this season, was held to a season-low three points with six turnovers.“I’ve been coaching here 11 years now, and that’s one of the best defensive efforts I think we’ve had in a long time,” said UO coach Kelly Graves, whose team forced 22 turnovers overall. “… We wanted to try to take (Williams) out of the game, and we did. I thought the game plan was well put together by the coaches, and the players went out and did an awesome job.”Elisa Mevius had 14 points on Sunday to lead the Ducks, who also had a legit threat down low in Amina Muhammad (12), in the midrange from Deja Kelly (10) and on the perimeter from Nani Falatea (10). Muhammad was also key to the defensive effort on Williams, along with fellow bigs Phillipina Kyei and Sarah Rambus.“Today I think we showed what we’re capable of when we communicate for all 40 minutes,” said Falatea, who made her second start of the season in place of Peyton Scott, who sat out with what Graves said looks like a minor knee injury.How It Happened: The Ducks set the tone early, with Muhammad and Kyei doubling Williams the first time she touched the ball, and forcing her first turnover on Wisconsin’s third possession. Oregon got out to a 6-0 lead before the Badgers scored, also forcing a couple of three-pointers late in the shot clock that were off line. Muhammad had eight points and Kelly added six as the UO women led 17-12 after one period.Katie Fiso provided a spark off the bench to open the second, hitting a turnaround jumper along the baseline and then a three-pointer on the next possession. Those buckets sparked a 13-3 run by Oregon to open the quarter. Mevius took over late in the period, driving to the bucket for a score, spinning away from a defender to set up Falatea for a basket and then making a three-pointer for a 37-23 halftime lead.A three-point play from Mevius got the lead out to 44-30 early in the third. Wisconsin answered with a three-pointer, but the Ducks responded with an 8-0 run that included a three-pointer from Falatea. The Ducks led 58-35 after three quarters.Graves went to his bench early in the fourth, but the Ducks committed turnovers on four of their first five possessions. Kyei got them going with a couple baskets in the paint midway through the period. Wisconsin twice cut the deficit to 13 late in the quarter with three-pointers, but Mevius answered each with a three-pointer at the other end as Oregon retained a comfortable lead.Notable: Sofia Bell returned to action after missing the previous four games. … Saturday was the program’s alumnae game, with several veterans of the program introduced during a first-half timeout. … Shalane Flanagan was honored during a timeout in the second quarter for leading Oregon to a conference title in women’s cross country during the fall. It was the athletic department’s first conference title as members of the Big Ten. … Former Oregon and NFL star quarterback Dan Fouts sat behind the Ducks’ bench for the game.Up Next: The Ducks go back on the road to play at Penn State on Thursday (3 p.m., B1G+).
