Ducks Shock Vanderbilt in Durham, 77-73 in OT

Tenth-seed Oregon squandered a 19-point third quarter lead but showed tremendous composure in overtime to survive and advance with a 77-73 victory over Vanderbilt in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Durham, North Carolina.

Oregon grew cold in the fourth, committing 19 turnovers for the game against physical, pressure defense to send the game into overtime tied 67-67. They struggled from the free throw line, converting only 8-16, but made clutch plays over the last three minutes of the extra period to hang on for the win.

As OT started Phillipina Kyei made one of two free throws to get the Ducks a lead, but Vanderbilt's Justine Pissott made a three to gain it. Falatea rattled in a three as Oregon made it 71-70. Peyton Scott's clutch jumper made 73-71; Vanderbilt answered. Amina Muhammad hustled for an offensive rebound and drew a foul, making one of two for one-point edge.

On the next play Scott stood her ground in perfect position to pick up an offensive foul that put Blakes out of the game. With the Ducks leading by one, Leilani Kapinus drew her fifth foul and Kelly made one of two free throws for a two-point edge. After two more missed free throws Muhammad hustled for another crucial offensive rebound. Scott, fouled on a drive on the wing, broke the free throw curse by sinking two, 77-73 with seven seconds to play.

Phillipina Kyei got the ball down low off a nice pass by Nani Falatea to start the third quarter, guarded by Pierre playing with three fouls. She banked in it. The Ducks led by 13, then Kelly hit two free throws and an elbow jumper to expand it all the way to 43-25.

The teams traded baskets, then Falatea hit a three from the top of the arc as Oregon reached 5-8 on threes. At 48-29, the Ducks had complete command of the game. They started the second half 5-7 from the floor, leading 48-32 at 4:54 in the third quarter.

The Ducks built a 16-point lead despite 17 points from Mikayla Blakes. Pierre cut it to 14, with four to play in the third. A textbook give-and-go to Sarah Rambus got them to 50. Another basket by Pierre, a jumper over a double team got Vandy back to 50-38 with Oregon coach Kelly Graves taking a time out.

Kelly nailed another jumper from the circle to stop the run, 52-38. She has 13.

Blakes sunk two free throws, 52-40, followed by a missed three. 1:20 in the third, Pierre goes to the line, makes one of two. The Ducks break the press and Fatea sinks a three from the left wing, 55-41. Vanderbilt answers with two and it's 55-43 with one quarter to go.

Through three quarters Deja Kelly led the Ducks with seven rebounds while making five of five at the line. She's been a steadying presence. Nani Falatea connected on 5-7 from the floor, 3-5 beyond the arc for 14 points, tops for the Ducks.

Can they hang on in the fourth? Shot selection and taking care of the basketball should be enough to survive and advance. Oregon is shooting a stunning 64% from the floor, and early in the fourth Blakes went to the bench with her fourth foul.

Kelly gave them a huge boost by opening the fourth quarter with a deep three, nothing but net. A 23 percent shooter from distance, it was a big shot toward keeping the momentum, 58-43.

Graves wisely called a timeout after Vanderbilt applied full court pressure after a miss, Oregon in danger of a ten-second violation.

Another midrange jumper by Kelly made it 62-45. After Duke closed to 60-48, a great pass from Scott to Kyei got the Ducks a precious inside bucket and a fourteen-point lead with under six minutes.

Blakes drops three free throws and the trap leads to a lay-in, lead down to nine. Blakes reaches 22, Kelly misses a jumper, Vandy gets another lay-in and another, a 12-2 to close within 62-57 as Graves takes a timeout.

Scott hits a jumper from the line to get it back to seven, then Vandy gets called for a moving screen. Falatea finds Kyei under the basket, up nine. Blakes scores again, Commodores within seven.

Vanderbilt had the ball with 2:39 to play, score 66-59. Oregon's suffered 18 turnovers and has to handle the pressure in the closing moments. Two more free throws by Blakes make it a five-point game. Falatea's baseline jumper rattled out. Still a five-point game, then four. Offensive rebounds by Kyei and Bell give the Ducks chances but nothing drops. A steal by Blake, and a fast break basket by and foul, 20-6 Vanderbilt run, and now a one-point game with a minute to go. Missed three by the Ducks, Vanderbilt works for a shot but Kelly gets a steal, fouled. Kelly's first free throw goes off the bracket, second good, 67-65 with 33 seconds to play.

Vanderbilt rushed their possession, driving the baseline and getting trapped under the basket. The Ducks force a jump ball in the paint with the possession arrow pointing to them. They led 67-65 with the ball with 27 seconds to play, Blakes and Pierre playing with four fouls.

Pierre fouls out on the inbound pass, sending Bell to the line but she missed both. Ducks hit just 10-17 from the line, 59 percent, a costly issue for them. At 23.6 seconds Vanderbilt had the ball down 67-65. A layup by Leilani Kapinu sent the game into overtime, tied 67-67. At one point in the third, the Ducks led by 19.