The Washington Huskies (9-6 overall, 1-4 Pac-12) played the #21 Oregon Ducks (13-4, 4-2 Pac-12) close on Friday night, but lost on the road, 65-58, in front of a rowdy Oregon fanbase of more than 6,000 fans.
The Huskies put a scare in the Ducks by displaying the relentless aggressiveness of a junkyard Dawg –UW even took the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Ultimately, the Huskies could not withstand the depth and pressure of the Ducks as UW faded in the final two minutes of the game.
Washington’s poor three-point defense also hurt them late in the game.
Oregon’s Taya Hanson came off the bench to hit all three of her (lightly contested) three-point attempts in the second half to give the Ducks the edge and the win.
Game Summary
In the first period, UW jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead, but Oregon responded with 12-4 run to take a 15-9 lead.
Dalayah Daniels struggled offensively, as 6’8″ Oregon center Phillipina Kyei played off her defensively, instead waiting patiently in the lane for Daniels to come to her.
Daniels seemed unsure how to attack Kyei and finished the first half with only four points on 2 for 8 shooting.
Both teams played sloppy on offense, committing five turnovers each, but the Ducks led 16-11 at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter featured more sloppy and ineffective offense by both teams.
In the second period, Oregon shot 16.7%, while Washington shot 22.2%.
Yet the second quarter ended with the Ducks holding a 29-21 lead.
The third quarter saw the Huskies come out with a brand new air of confidence.
UW went on a 10-2 run coming out of halftime to tie the game at 31-31.
The Dawgs began the period demonstrating flawless offensive execution with multiple high pick-and-rolls — with an emphasis on involving Dalayah Daniels.
Daniels scored eight of her 14 points in the third period for the Huskies.
DEFENSE ➡️ OFFENSE
and we are TIED UP.📺 Pac-12 Oregon
📲 https://t.co/meJtBdsggv pic.twitter.com/EZuk0k8BE3— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) January 14, 2023
Likewise, Haley Van Dyke stepped up her play in the third quarter with six points (3 for 4), two assists and one steal in nine minutes.
📺 Pac-12 Oregon
📲 https://t.co/meJtBdsggv pic.twitter.com/iYE6uIIDIk— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) January 14, 2023
However, Oregon guard Taya Hanson hit two three-pointers in the final two minutes of the third period, which ended with the Ducks holding a 45-39 lead.
To start the fourth quarter, Oregon jumped out to a 49-39 lead behind two scoring plays by Oregon guard Paopao.
Then the Huskies inserted Darcy Rees trailing 39 – 47 and proceeded to put together a 13-2 run in the fourth quarter — capped by a layup by Rees off an Oregon turnover — to seize the lead 52-51 with 4:39 to go in the game.
However, Oregon responded with four made shots in a row, as the Huskies went cold again, and pulled away for the victory.
But Oregon responded with a 6-0 run to take a 57-52 lead.
Dalayah Daniels scored to pull the Dawgs within three points, 57-54, with 1:15 to go.
However, Lauren Schwartz subsequently missed a potential game-tying three.
With 23.3 seconds left in the game, Oregon guard Hanson hit her fourth and final three-pointer to give the Ducks a 60-54 lead that the Dawgs were unable to surmount.
Oregon committed 16 turnovers against the Huskies defense.
UW scored 10 points off of Oregon’s turnovers; scored 11 second-chance points; and outscored the Ducks in the paint 34-26.
UW Huskies Player of the Game – Jayda Noble
Haley Van Dyke and Dalayah Daniels led the Huskies in scoring with 14 points each — each doing most of their damage in the third period.
However, Jayda Noble was the Huskies most valuable player of the game because she made multiple “winning plays” throughout the game.
Noble finished with six points , seven rebounds, four steals, three assists and one block.
N🚫BLE‼️
📺 Pac-12 Oregon
📲 https://t.co/meJtBdsggv pic.twitter.com/37x4WUEbrU— Washington Women’s Basketball (@UW_WBB) January 14, 2023
WHAT. A. STEAL. BY JAYDA NOBLE 👏🔥#NCAAWBB x 🎥 @UW_WBB pic.twitter.com/XI1YSpiNou
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) January 14, 2023