Recap: Ducks’ second-half surge, Wildcats’ defense cap weekend battle between Oregon and Arizona programs

The No. 3 Oregon Ducks have now won their last 10 games following a 79-48 win over the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils. Arizona State, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games. The No. 12 Arizona Wildcats overcame a slight halftime deficit of seven points to force overtime and secure the 65-58 win over the No. 9 Oregon State Beavers.

Second-half eruption

The Ducks shot 37 percent in the first half, putting up 27 points. After halftime, Oregon shot 60 percent, including 8-of-14 makes from beyond the arc, for 52 points. For the offensively limited Sun Devils, it was just too much. Not to mention the intensity of the Ducks’ defense that forced 18 turnovers, 11 of which were steals.

Sabrina Ionescu led all scorers with 19 points and registered five assists, leaving her just three shy of 1,000 career assists. Satou Sabally recorded her third straight double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Jaz Shelley came off the bench to score 14 points on 5-of-5 shooting, including four made 3-pointers. This is her second Pac-12 game in double-figuring scoring and her fifth overall this season.

Defensive intensity

The Wildcats ground out a seven-point victory over the Beavers after an overtime period in which the teams shot a combined 2-of-12 from the floor. Arizona, however, got to the free-throw line and finished a perfect 6-of-6 en route to victory.

Oregon State got off to a decent start, scoring 36 points on 55 percent shooting as they built a seven point halftime lead. But Arizona tightened up and kept the Beavers in check. Oregon State finished with 39 percent shooting and 14 turnovers.

For the Wildcats, Aari McDonald led all scorers with 22 points. Dominique McBryde scored a season-high 19 points, marking her second time reaching double-figure scoring this season. She also contributed eight rebounds and four blocks.

The play of the game was the Wildcats’ lone field goal in overtime. They were up by two after a pair of free throws by Cate Reese, who finished with 13 points and was 6-of-6 on from the line. With just over a minute left, Sam Thomas, who was 0-of-8 at this point, was left open and hit a shot to put the Wildcats up five points.

Oregon State’s dynamic duo of Mykala Pivec and Destiny Slocum was held in check, despite both recording double-doubles — Pivec with 15 points and 11 rebounds and Slocum with 11 points and 10 assists. The duo combined for 9-of-27 from the floor and just 1-of-8 from beyond the arc.

Up next

Oregon and Oregon State hit the road for four-game road trips to USC, UCLA, Stanford and California. Arizona and Arizona State return home to await visits from Washington and Washington State.

Results: Sunday, Feb. 9

No. 9 Oregon State Beavers defeated the No. 12 Arizona Wildcats 65-58.

No. 3 Oregon Ducks walloped the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils 79-48.

Results: Friday, Feb. 7

No. 3 Oregon Ducks trounced the No. 12 Arizona Wildcats 85-52.

No. 9 Oregon State Beavers edged the No. 19 Arizona State Sun Devils 64-62.