Colorado
10-11
Oregon
21-1
Ducks' Start too Much to Overcome
February 03, 2019 | Women's Basketball
Colorado falls to 0-10 in Pac-12 play
EUGENE, Ore. – The No. 4 Oregon Ducks hit its first five shots to start Sunday's contest and there was no slowing them down. The Colorado women's basketball team struggled to get to the basket throughout the contest, falling 102-43 inside Matthew Knight Arena.
"Oregon is a different animal than any other team in the league," head coach JR Payne explained in defeat. "They shoot the ball well, they are big inside, they rebound and on the flip side, they defend. They didn't use to defend the way they have this year."
Colorado fought an uphill battle from the opening possession. The Ducks started 8-0 in the first three minutes and put in the game's first 16 points. The Buffs finally broke through from the free-throw line at the 4:22 mark, slimming the deficit to 14 (16-2).
Oregon (21-1, 10-0 Pac-12) had five different players find the hoop at the end of the first quarter. Colorado went 0-for-13 in the opening quarter, netting just the two free throws.
Oregon's lead hit as many as 43 in the half. Seven different Ducks found the basket, while Colorado adjusted to score from the field. Mya Hollingshed broke CU's 0-for-14 slump, converting on CU's second attempt of the second quarter. Hollingshed led CU with six points at the break.
Ruthy Hebard was one of four Ducks to score in double figures. She led Oregon with 24 on the afternoon, going a perfect 10-of-10 from the field. Matie Cazorla added 16 for the Ducks, while Satou Sabally (15) and Sabrina Ionescu (11) rounded out Oregon's top performers.
Hollingshed picked up her fourth double-double of the season. She finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Quinessa Caylao-Do was CU's only other double-figure scorer, closing with 11 points.
HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado (10-11, 0-10 Pac-12) was unable to get into any kind of offensive rhythm. The Buffs shot just 25.4 percent (16-63), hampered by their 0-for-13 opening quarter.
The Ducks, on the other hand, had little trouble. Oregon was 70.6 percent (12-17) from the field in the first quarter, scoring 27 points. UO matched its first quarter with a 27-point second quarter, taking a 54-13 lead at the half.
Oregon finished 58.0 percent (40-69) from the field and used a 28-point closing quarter to go up by as many as 65.
TURNING POINT: It was all about the start on Sunday. The Ducks 14-0 run to open the afternoon was all they needed. Hebard scored six points in the run going, 3-for-3 from the floor. Oregon did not register its first miss until the 5:44 mark of the quarter.
WHAT IT MEANS: CU falls to 0-10 in conference play for the first time in school history.
KEY STATISTICS: Oregon outscored CU 30-0 off of turnovers. CU turned the ball over 18 times compared to six by the Ducks.
NOTEWORTHY: Colorado was without senior Kennedy Leonard for the seventh consecutive game…she continues to be day-to-day…Oregon's 54-13 lead at the half was the largest halftime deficit in program history (41)…UO's 102 points were the most CU has allowed to a Pac-12 opponent in conference play…the 59 point defeat was the largest deficit for CU since its 113-51 loss (62) to Missouri (3/6/1984).
QUOTEWORTHY: "There is nothing that feels good about the scoreboard. I think when we got back and watch the film we will see that in spots, especially in the second half. We were certainly more competitive." – CU's JR Payne
"Mya is a great, young player. She didn't play a ton last year as a freshman, until later in the season. She is still growing but the evolution of her mindset is what I continue to see." CU's JR Payne
NEXT UP: Colorado returns to the CU Events Center for its next two games. The Buffs will host UCLA (7 p.m. MT) on Friday to open the week.
