Oregon Uses Hot Second Half To Advance Over Washington State

By Kecia Bailey: SPM CA Writer
Posted Friday, March 7, 2008

SAN JOSE, Calif. – The 2008 Pac-10 Women’s Basketball Tournament opened with a game between the #7 Oregon Ducks and the #10 Washington State Cougars and ended with a 66-45 victory for the Ducks at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Washington State came into the game looking to make program history by winning its first-ever tournament game. They were well on their way at halftime thanks to 12 points from freshman guard Jasmine Williams and a 14-7 run to close the first period. Washington State went into the locker room with a 28-23 over the Oregon Ducks, marking the first time the Cougars had led in the half of a Pac-10 tournament game.

Washington State pushed its lead to seven early in the second. But Oregon went on a 9-0 run, erasing the deficit and taking its first lead since the 6:53 mark in the first half. Sophomore guard Taylor Lilley scored five of her 13 second-half points to key the comeback.

Thanks to the Ducks' stifling defense -- which contained the Cougars to 22 percent shooting from the floor -- Oregon would take control in the second half, outscoring Washington State 43-17 and shooting a blistering 55 percent to close out the game.

Lilley led all scorers with 20 points; Jasmine Williams paced the Cougars with 17. Freshman Ellie Manou finished with a double-double and a game-high 11 rebounds.

The Ducks return to action on Saturday to face the #2 seed California Golden Bears at 1:15pm PT.