Ducks with a Team Effort Against the Boilermakers 

By Nick Jenkinson/Excel H Sports

   The Oregon Ducks handled the  Purdue Boilermakers 82-64 in the first round of the Allstate Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Oregon is 21-11 and will face #6 Maryland 23-7 tomorrow night at 9 PM in the Second round. Purdue ends the season with a 13-17 record. Oregon beat Purdue 71-65 in West Lafayette on February 25.

   Katie Fiso led Oregon with 20 points, Ehis Etute had a double double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Mia Jacobs added 14 points and 9 rebounds. The Ducks were 25-61 from the field for 41%, 5-16 from three-point range for 31% and 27-29 from the free throw line for 93%. Oregon had 42 rebounds, 12 assists, 6 blocks, 5 steals and 9 turnovers. Oregon had 34 points in the paint, 23 second chance points, 22 bench points, 15 points off turnovers and 5 fastbreak points.

   Lana McCarthy led Purdue with 14 points, and 9 rebounds, Tara Daye and Hila Karsch scored 11 points apiece. Purdue was without Madison Layden-Zay who dislocated her kneecap in the matchup against Rutgers. Purdue was 25-60 from the field for 41%, 8-25 from three-point range for 32% and 6-13 from the free throw line for 46%. Purdue scored 30 points in the paint, 30 bench points, 16 bench points, 9 second chance points and no fastbreak points.

   Purdue Led 3-0 when Tara Daye drilled a three pointer with 9:34 left in the first quarter. Katie Fiso made the game 3-2 with 9:07 left in the Ducks took a 4-3 lead with 7:58 left in the first quarter with a Sofia Bell bucket as the Ducks never trailed the rest of the way. Oregon led 21-12 at the end of the first quarter as the Ducks increased the lead to 47-24 at halftime after Oregon outscored Purdue 26-12 in the second quarter.

   Purdue outscored Oregon 25-17 in the third quarter as Ducks led 64-49 going into the fourth quarter. Oregon closed out the game outscoring Purdue 18-15 in the fourth quarter. Purdue challenged Oregon in that third quarter, but the Ducks had too much for the Boilermakers and look forward to a rematch with Maryland while Purdue gets ready for next season.