University Southern California Trojans
Women's Basketball Falls to Oregon on the Road
June 21, 1999 | Women's Basketball
February 6, 1999
EUGENE - The University of Oregon, showing effects of some emotional letdown after its big upset win over No. 7 UCLA on Thursday night, came away with a 73-61 victory over the Women of Troy of USC tonight in front of 5,672 fans at McArthur Court.
The Ducks, winners of four straight and 13 of their last 15 games, improve their record to 18-4 overall and 9-2 in the Pac-10, Oregon's best start in conference play in the league's 13-year history. USC falls to 6-14 overall and 2-9 in the Pac-10.
"I think it's very difficult to get up emotionally after a big game like the other night (a 106-79 win over No. 7 UCLA)," said Oregon Head Coach Jody Runge. "We just had trouble scoring on offense and they did a great job dribbling and throwing things up there that went in consistently. We knew they would be a great defensive challenge for us. They're very athletic. It's was just a real tough night and we're glad to get the win, we're going to have to regroup and get better."
In the first moments of the first half, Oregon and USC went back and forth tying the game five times before the Ducks jumped ahead for good at 18-16 on two Brianne Meharry free throws with 11:06 remaining in the half. The Ducks moved in front by as many as 12 points with a minute-forty to go and closed the first stanza with a 10- point lead at 37-27.
Meharry scored a game-high 23 points (9-for-12 from the field), one off her career-high set last year at Mac Court against USC, scoring 14 of those points in the second half. Oregon's only other double-digit performer on the night was senior Natasha O'Brien, scoring 11 points on 4-for-5 shooting. Sophomore forward Angelina Wolvert contributed eight points while pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds, Oregon's first rebounder in double-digits in six games.
In the second half, USC cut Oregon's lead to four points (53-49) with 8:08 left to play, the closet the Women of Troy would get in the game. The Ducks then proceeded to go on a eight-point run to take a 12-point lead. USC would once again chop the lead to six points but the Ducks outlasted the Women of Troy, outscoring USC down the stretch to take the 12-point victory at 73-61.
The Ducks were marred by turnovers, surrendering the ball a season-high tying 27 times while not making one 3-pointer going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Oregon did however own the boards, outrebounding the Women of Troy, 44-24.
USC had a triumvirate in double-digit scoring led by Tashara Carter and Tiffany Washington who each had 17 points. Tiffany Elmore who shot 3-for-20 from the field scored 13 points while pulling down a team-high seven rebounds.
"The only thing that we didn't do well tonight was rebound," said USC Head Coach Chris Gobrecht. "However, we did force Oregon into a lot of turnovers, we just need to get some players."
