Oregon Women Look To Turn Season Around vs UCLA and USC This Week

Nov 20, 2013; Hartford, CT, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Paul Westhead talks to an official from the sideline as they take on the Connecticut Huskies in the first half at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

After starting the season 9-2 the Oregon Women’s Basketball team has lost four games in a row, all in the Pac-12 Conference. The losing streak began against a tough Stanford team, ranked #3 in the country at the time. Paul Westhead’s team could not handle the pressure and lost by 30 points 96-66. A trip to Cal followed with another loss in overtime 101-98. Following the game against Cal State Northridge there was a lot of optimism about the program in 2014. I’m not sure if much of that enthusiasm is left. We will find out a lot about the team this week as they hit the road again to face UCLA and USC, two of the better Conference teams right now.

USC (11-6, 4-1 Pac-12) started the season on a three game winning streak before losing to two ranked teams in, at the time, #20 Oklahoma State and #17 South Carolina. The Trojans have won six of their last seven entering Pac-12 play. After facing the Ducks they hit the road to face #15 Cal and #4 Stanford.

The UCLA Bruins (8-9, 2-3 Pac-12), have faced six ranked opponents so far in 2013-14 and lost five of those six games. So far in Conference play the Bruins are 2-3 on the season. A win against the Ducks would bring them back to .500.

These are both winnable games for Oregon and would stop a four game skid and help move the Ducks back to the middle of the Pac-12 Conference pack. Following the road trip the Washington schools come to Matthew Knight Arena next week.

Oregon and UCLA tip off Friday(8pm PT, Pac-12 Networks). USC welcomes the Lady Ducks  Sunday(2pm, Pac-12 Networks)