From the Media
- Semifinal preview: UCLA vs. Oregon State, by Jen Cosgriff (Pac-12)
- Semifinal preview: Oregon vs. Stanford, by Jen Cosgriff (Pac-12)
- Who were Friday's winners and losers?, by Charlie Creme (espnW)
- Bracketology, by Charlie Creme (espnW)
- Oregon knocks Washington women out of Pac-12 tournament, by Percy Allen (Seattle Times)
#1 Oregon State 63, #4 UCLA 53
UCLA came out with a very intense, trapping defensive style that clearly bothered the Beavers. The referees seemed content to let a lot of hand contact go on, which allowed Jordin Canada and other Bruins to tangle OSU's shooters in a net of hands and arms. At the half, UCLA had a slim lead at 27-30.
During the third quarter UCLA hit a long scoring drought and OSU was able to climb steadily ahead. A timely three by Mikayla Pivec gave OSU its first two-possession lead, 44-38, at the end of the quarter.
In the fourth, both teams suffered a scoring drought, but it seemed that tournament fatigue began to get to the Bruins, and the Beavers were able to open the final ten-point margin in the last three minutes.
Here are game reports:
- Late shots carry No. 6 Oregon State past No. 15 UCLA 63-53, the Associated Press game recap
- Beavers Punch Ticket to Pac-12 Tournament Final, the Oregon State Athletics game recap
And the game highlights video.
#2 Stanford 71, #6 Oregon 56
In the record books a fifteen-point margin of victory looks like an easy win, but this win was anything but.
The Oregon Ducks, having narrowly ousted the Huskies less than 24 hours before, should have come into the arena tired both physically and mentally, but apparently they didn't get that memo. They came out strong while Stanford came out slow and tentative, with the result that after one quarter, the Ducks had a nine-point lead, 16-25.
Stanford began to get into an offensive flow in the second quarter. Tara called time near the end of the quarter with Stanford still trailing by six, 26-32. In the next two minutes, Alanna and Brittany hit threes, then Brittany hit two free throws to tie the score at 34-34. Oregon's Ionescu missed a jumper and Karlie rebounded, passed to Brittany, who passed down the floor to Alanna for a layup on the buzzer, sending Stanford into the locker room ahead, 36-34.
In the third quarter, the Ducks made one more effort and tied the score at 42-42; but then Bri hit a jumper, and shortly a three, and Kaylee hit a layup and the Cardinal seemed to have some breathing room at last.
But the Ducks were still not done. In the fourth quarter they came within four points before Stanford could pull away on buckets by Bird, Brittany, Bird again, Brittany again.
On the Oregon side, the two heroes of the UW win, Ruthy Hebard and Lexi Bando, were held down by Stanford defense. Hebard was held to only four points by Kaylee and Bird. Bando eventually fouled out with only three points, after being hounded by Karlie all the game. Sabrina Ionescu was the special focus of Bri and Marta. She made 14 points, which was exactly her season average.
The Stanford total was spread very evenly, with four players in double digits and two others with more than five.
Kaylee deserves special mention because her 11 points were her season high, and with 12 rebounds were her first double-double of the season. She also had two assists, two steals, and two blocks. One Kaylee highlight from near the end of the game: Hebard pulled down an offensive rebound but Kaylee simply ripped the ball away from her and fired it down the court to a streaking Bird for an easy layup.
Bird had 17 points and 15 rebounds for a double-double, plus four blocks.
Brittany had 15 points (notably including 6-6 for free throws), three assists and two blocks.
Bri, besides bird-dogging Ionescu, had 12 points (and was 2-2 for three-point shots), plus three assists and a steal.
Karlie, besides harassing Bando, had eight points.
Alanna had five points, including a very timely three-pointer to help get the lead at the half, and an assist and a steal, in just 13 minutes of play.
Here are game reports:
- Erica McCall leads No. 10 Stanford past Oregon 71-56, the Associated Press game recap
- Semi-tough: Stanford ends UO Run, the Oregon Athletics game recap
- Oregon Ducks fall to Stanford Cardinal in semifinals of Pac-12 women’s tournament by Ryan Thorburn (Register-Guard)
- Stanford women advance to face Oregon St. in Pac-12 final by Jim Hoehn (San Francisco Chronicle)
- WBB: Stanford 71 Oregon 56 from the CARDboard
An interview of Tara,
An interview of Bird,
And the video press conference with Tara, Bird and Kaylee.
Finis
The championship game tomorrow is Oregon State vs Stanford at 6:00.
The game will be televised by ESPN2.
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