Oregon Ducks Outshoot Arizona State For 6-0 Start In Pac-12
The Oregon Ducks had 17 points off turnovers and outshot Arizona State in a win at Matthew Knight Arena.
Oregon looked to maintain first place in the Pac-12 with a win over Arizona State. Sabrina Ionescu talked earlier in the week about the grind of Conference play and she showed early she was ready for the Wildcats.
Ionescu started the game a perfect 6 for 6 from the floor before her first missed shot. Oregon opened the game 15 for 20 shooting 75 percent, far better than Thursday night against Arizona. In a sequence early in the first quarter, Arizona State had back to back to back Offensive Rebounds that resulted in no points given up by the Oregon Defense.
The Sun Devils hit 6 of 8 shots to close out the first half while holding the Ducks scoreless for over three minutes. With 1:07 left in the second quarter Oregon held a 5 point lead. Oregon took a 38-34 lead into halftime. Arizona State found field goals on 5 of their final 7 trips down the floor in the second quarter shooting 48 percent to the Ducks 67 percent. Both teams had 6 turnovers.
The Oregon Ducks opened the third quarter by forcing four straight Arizona State turnovers and turning them into points to extend the lead to 52-34 with 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Ducks hit a streak of seven straight field goals. The Ducks shut down Arizona State in the third quarter outscoring the Sun Devils 21-5 to take a 20 point lead into the 4th Quarter.
Both teams had 13 turnovers, but the Ducks turned them into 17 points. Oregon also had a push with Hebard and 34 points in the paint. Arizona State battled until the end but lost by ten points 74-64.
Sabrina Ionescu led Oregon with 26 points hitting 11 for 15 from the floor after starting the game 6 for 6. Ruthy Hebard was a perfect 9 for 9 from the field with 20 points and 6 rebounds. Lexi Bando was held scoreless in the game. She was double teamed most of the game allowing her teammates to capitalize.
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Oregon has the week to rest and practice for a single game next weekend against Oregon State at Matthew Knight Arena. Tipoff is set for Sunday, January 21st at 5 pm Pacific Time