Ducks Seek to Beat Utah for Second Time, Keep Momentum Late in the Season
With just six games left on the docket this season, the Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team (17-6, 6-6) is looking to make a strong push into the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments come March. To do that, the Ducks will need to beat the Utah Utes (14-9, 6-6) at home this Friday.
The Ducks won their last game against #24 Washington 75-63 after being down 17 in the third quarter. Oregon has won six of seven games after starting out 0-5 in conference play.
The Utes are coming off back-to-back wins against Colorado. But before those two wins, the team lost five straight games, four of which were at home.
One of those five Utah losses was against Oregon. The Ducks handled Utah 77-65 in Salt Lake City. In that game, Jillian Alleyne dominated the Utes, as she put up 26 points along with 12 rebounds. Sharpshooter Kat Cooper made four of seven three point shots, scoring 12 points in just 19 minutes.
The Utes will hope for another big game from starting forward Emily Potter. Against the Ducks, Potter had 22 points and 10 rebounds, both team highs. Utah will need a more all-around offensive attack if they hope to avenge that January 24th loss. Outside of Potter’s 9-18 shooting, the team shot 13-46 combined, putting them at 28 percent shooting for the night.
As both teams are 6-6 in Pac-12 play, this game may end up being crucial for Pac-12 tournament seeding come March. The teams are currently tied for sixth in the Pac-12 and both teams are only one game behind fifth place Washington.
When asked about what this game means to the team looking ahead to both the Pac-12 and NCAA tournaments, Kat Cooper said, “Right now we’re just trying to go game by game, not look too far ahead. Up next is Utah and that’s what we’re going to focus on.”
While Cooper says the team is just thinking in the now and not looking ahead, the tournaments are still in the team’s mind. The Ducks have not made the NCAA tournament since the 2004-2005 season. The team says making the NCAA tournament is its “number one goal, and showing teams that doubted us in the beginning that we can be that team is something that motivates us.”
Remaining motivated to win and keeping momentum heading in the right direction will be crucial as the team takes on Utah. Tip-off is on Friday at 6 p.m. at Matthew Knight Arena.
Kat Cooper interview courtesy of goducks.com post-practice interview
