Nearly every type of situation this season throws at the Ducks is going to be a new experience for this young Duck team. After breezing through games both at home and on the road, Oregon had to handle the conference season opener with only two games under their collective belt.
Colorado came calling and gave the Ducks a battle in the first half, but once they were able to have a productive halftime talk, Oregon outscored the Buffs 26-13 in the third en route to what turned into an easy 82-53 win.
“I thought defensively, we best our best game and I thought we played well in both halves,” Oreogn coach Kelly Graves said. “Colorado is a better team. I think this is the best team JR (Payne) has had. “They pushed us. They tested us. But I thought in the second half we answered the challenge.”
A couple of early traits for this team have emerged. One is coming out for the third quarter and putting the hammer down on a team. This other trait is having someone different leading the team in scoring.
In Game 1 vs Seattle, it was Taylor Mikesell. In Game 2 at Portland, it was Erin Boley. In Game 3, it was Nyara Sabally, who was too much for the Buffaloes to handle on either end of the floor.
The younger Sabally, who has missed the last two years due to knee injuries, dominated with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Her aggressiveness inside also managed to create three early fouls on Colorado center Mya Hollingshed.
“I thought she was a factor on both ends of the floor. It was great to see her have that kind of game, Graves said. “In a crazy year like this, we’re going to need everybody at some point.
“I think our players have done a wonderful job and have taken this seriously. I’m glad this is the one year we have a ton of depth.”
POST GAME; OREGON FORWARD NYARA SABALLY DISCUSSES WIN
Sabally had hoped to play with her sister Satou in Eugene, but her ACL blew out twice. Although Satou isn’t here, Nyara has bonded with fellow big person 6-7 Sedona Prince and roomie Taylor Chavez.
“It’s a huge benefit to play with Sedona. They can’t double down on her, so it’s a huge help for me,” Sabally said. “We’re all really close, especially Taylor Chavez because she’s been here through my whole journey. Everyone has been there for me. I’ll be fine doing what I do.”
What she did was nearly unstoppable as Sabally was a perfect 9-of-9 from the field, including nailing her first three-pointer of her career. It was also her first start, the first of many.
Along with Sabally, Boley added 17 points and Ta’Hina Paopao had her best game offensively with 13 points. Her three treys in the third quarter helped Oregon pull away from the 2-1 Colorado team.
Photo Courtesy of Oregon Athletic Dept.
“I think I needed a couple of games under my belt to feel comfortable. Pac-12 play is definitely different,” Paopao said. “It was a smooth transition but we’ll have to see. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’ve been needing a lot of help on defense.”
Although she did score 13, the Ducks don’t necessarily need scoring out of the High School All-American. Oregon needs her to run the offense, not turn the ball over and not be a liability of defense.
So far, so good.
POST GAME; KELLY GRAVES DISCUSSES WIN OVER COLORADO