Oregon Falls to Washington State in Pac-12 Tournament, WNIT Still a Possibility

Nov 20, 2013; Hartford, CT, USA; Connecticut Huskies center Stefanie Dolson (31) looks to pass against Oregon Ducks forward Jillian Alleyne  Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

It may not be the most fitting way to go out if you are Oregon Coach Paul Westhead, but his team certainly showed fight in the first round loss against Washington State on Thursday in the first round of the Women’s Pac-12 Tournament in Seattle. For a team that has learned a system over the last five seasons to put up 100 points and lose says something believe it or not.

The game was the highest scoring game in Women’s Pac-12 Tournament history and if you were watching it was a roller coaster pretty much all the way through. One other record also fell. Sophomore Jillian Alleyne broke the Pac-12 Conference rebounding record with her 12th rebound on her way to 21 for the game. She also had 28 points. Former record holder, Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike posted 466 rebounds just last season for the Cardinal.

Oregon is coming off one of the more successful seasons they have had in the last five years. The last time the Ducks saw the post season was in Westhead’s first season. It would be a nice bookend to his career with Oregon to do it again. I don’t think that Oregon Coach Paul Westhead has coached his last game for the Ducks. With a 15-15, .500 record his team is eligible for a spot in the post season, most likely in the WNIT. The big question is, will the have the opportunity? The 64 field team will be announced on March 17th.

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