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Oregon Women’s Basketball: UCLA Ends Ducks Home Winning Streak

By Justin Phillips

EUGENE, OREGON - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kelly Graves of the Oregon Ducks reacts during the first quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Matthew Knight Arena on January 03, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - JANUARY 03: Head coach Kelly Graves of the Oregon Ducks reacts during the first quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Matthew Knight Arena on January 03, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Soobum Im/Getty Images) /
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The Oregon Women’s Basketball team fell behind early and were able to climb back down double digits, but an experienced UCLA team came away with the win.

Kelly Graves knew that there were several teams on the calendar that would give his young team trouble. One of them was UCLA and despite fighting back from a double-digit deficit, it was not enough as the Bruins handed Oregon their first home loss of the 2020 season 73-71.

The win snapped a 27 game winning streak at Matthew Knight Arena for the Oregon Women’s Basketball team. Oregon lost their big three last season to graduation in Sabrina Ionescu, Satou Sabally, and Ruthy Hebard. These three players had the experience that would have been able to help the Ducks through these kinds of games. After all, the winning streak started with them.

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UCLA led the game most of the way, but when Oregon came back from double digits with just under five minutes left in the game to tie it at 71, there was a chance. For the Bruins, Michaela Onyenwere finished with 33 points and hit the final three of the game to win it for the Bruins.

For Oregon to have the opportunity in games like this one where they were facing a better, more physical, and more experienced team, they needed their shooters to be on point. Everyone is allowed an off night. Even Sabrina Ionescu had a few in her Oregon career. Against UCLA, Jaz Shelley had just three points. The Bruins made it tough for her to get going and succeeded where they need to. The Ducks did not make a field goal in the final two and a half minutes of the game.

Both teams had 14 turnovers and Oregon was able to get more out of them scoring 13 points to UCLA’s 6. UCLA shot 44 percent from the floor and shot 47 percent from three-point range making 7 of 15. Oregon made 7 of 22 from distance for 32 percent.

Oregon will not get a rest facing their second ranked Pac-12 team in a row on Friday. Following the loss to 11th ranked UCLA, they will travel to the farm to take on #1 Stanford. Tipoff is set for 11:30 am Pacific Time on Pac-12 Network.