California offers UO a chance to rebound.Byline: Bob Rodman rod·man n. One who carries and employs a leveling rod under the supervision of a surveyor. The Register-Guard BERKELEY, Calif. - They are being outscored by more than seven points a game, being outrebounded by more than five. The postseason appearance run of nine straight years has all but run its course. And now the Ducks are flirting with their first losing season in a decade, with six wins needed in their final seven scheduled games. Not since the 1992-93 season has the Oregon women's basketball Women's basketball is one of the few games which developed in tandem with men's. It became popular, spreading from the east coast of the United States to the west coast, in large part via women's colleges. team finished with more losses than wins. Despite having lost five of their last seven games, despite winning just three of 12 games away from McArthur Court McArthur Court is a basketball arena located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene. Also known as "The Pit," it is known as one of the toughest arenas in the country for opposing players to play in. The arena is named for Clifton N. , despite giving up 73.4 points a game and despite trying to play a season with nine healthy players, the Ducks truck their 8-13 record (4-8 in the Pac-10 Conference) into California's Haas Pavilion The Walter A. Haas, Jr. Pavilion is the home of the University of California, Berkeley's basketball and volleyball teams. The arena was originally built in 1933 as Harmon Gym. It was heavily renovated from 1997 to 1999 after a generous donation from Walter A. Haas, Jr. today with hope continuing to spring eternal. For good reason. Oregon has beaten the Bears in 18 of the last 19 games (the loss by the Ducks a 68-57 Cal win at Berkeley two years ago) by an average margin of more than 18 points. Will the 2 p.m. game, scheduled for a Fox Sports Net telecast, be any different? "We don't think about that (the UO domination of Cal)," said Bev Smith Bev Smith (born April 4 1960) is the head women's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. She has held that position since 2001, replacing controversial coach Jody Runge, and has posted an 83-69 record. , the second-year Oregon coach who led her team to the Women's National Invitation Tournament The Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) is a college basketball tournament with a preseason and postseason version played every year. It is operated in a similar fashion to the men's NIT. title in her first season. "Each game is different. "Maybe some of the veterans might feel a certain level of familiarity with Cal, having played them before, and that experience can help. "But the main thing is we need a split." In the wake of Thursday's 31-point fall at Stanford, Smith said, "We can win ... if we play our way." So can the Bears, who banked 70 points on Oregon State in Thursday's 70-55 win over the Beavers - the Pac-10's scoring defense leader, allowing just 57.8 points a game. Cal coach Caren Horstmeyer's approach: "If you do the little things well, good things will happen." The Bears, 8-12 overall and 4-7 in the Pac-10 (including a victory at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX ), are doing their best to put an end to to destroy. - Fuller. See also: End a nine-year run of losing seasons. "We've already beaten Cal (once this season)," said Brandi Davis, the UO sophomore guard who is the team's three-point leader (38), second-leading scorer (11.4), second in steals (27) and third in assists (46). "But that doesn't matter. We've got to play, play the best we can." And on too many occasions this season, the best they can has not been good enough. Oregon has been outrebounded in 15 of its 21 games. The Ducks' defense is approaching the not-so-enviable record of allowing 74.5 points a game, which was established during the 1991-92 season. "We're pretty young and inexperienced in·ex·pe·ri·ence n. 1. Lack of experience. 2. Lack of the knowledge gained from experience. in , especially on the road," said Smith, alluding to the Ducks' 1-5 record on the courts of conference opponents. "I think we are playing with a lot of physical, mental and emotional fatigue, but we need to play hard and well against Cal, and if we do we have a chance to be successful." The formula for Oregon is defense plus rebounding equals victory. When they hold opponents to less than 70 points, the Ducks are 5-4. When opponents get 70 or more on Oregon, the Ducks are 4-8. And when Oregon wins the board battle, it is 4-0. When it loses that fight, Oregon is 3-12. In 15 of the Ducks' 21 games, the opposing rebounders have prevailed. "Our defense must be disciplined, our offense patient, and we must attack the defensive boards," Smith said. "When we do those things, we can control the tempo tempo [Ital.,=time], in music, the speed of a composition. The composer's intentions as to tempo are conventionally indicated by a set of Italian terms, of which the principal ones are presto (very fast), vivace (lively), allegro (fast), of a game ... and when that happens, we can be successful." The Cal game will complete Oregon's next to last regular-season road trip. The Ducks play host to Oregon next Saturday and entertain Washington State and Washington the following week before visiting USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and UCLA. At least one more game awaits the Ducks with the Pac-10 tournament March 7-10 at San Jose San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif. UO WOMEN AT CALIFORNIA Oregon (8-13, 4-8) Starters Carolyn Ganes, 6-3 Fr. (11.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg) Kedzie Gunderson, 6-0 So. (7.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg) Andrea Bills, 6-3 So. (9.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg) Alissa Edwards, 5-7 Sr. (6.2 ppg, 3.2 apg) Brandi Davis, 6-0 So. (11.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg) California (8-12, 4-7) Starters Leigh Gregory, 6-0 So. (7.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg) Amber White, 6-0 Sr. (2.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg) Timea Ivanyi, 6-4 Jr. (10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) Nihan Anaz, 5-9 Jr. (10.1 ppg, 2.9 apg) Kristin Iwanaga, 5-6 So. (8.4 ppg, 3.1 apg) Time: 2 p.m. PST PST Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, see there Radio/TV: KSCR-AM (1320). Live telecast scheduled on Fox Sports Net. CAPTION(S): UO WOMEN VS. CALIFORNIA Haas Pavilion 2 p.m. today Fox Sports Net KSCR-AM (1320) "Our defense must be disciplined, our offense patient, and we must attack the defensive boards." BEV SMITH UO WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACH |
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