In the first of a pair of home games this week before heading to Hawaii, No. 23 Oregon women’s basketball defeated Grand Canyon 70-54 on Monday night at Matthew Knight Arena.
The Ducks shot just 38% but got a pair of solid scoring performances, including 17 points from Peyton Scott and a first double-double of the season for Amina Muhammad: 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Star guard Deja Kelly, like many of her teammates, struggled from the floor. She was held scoreless on 0-for-9 shooting but did grab 11 rebounds and dish out four assists.
Oregon trailed 4-2 early, but back-to-back threes from Scott and another pair of back-to-back triples from Nani Falatea highlighted a blistering 20-0 run that gave the Ducks a 22-4 lead late in the first.
Grand Canyon finished the first quarter strong with a 6-0 spurt to make it 22-10, but the Lopes (2-2) ended up shooting just 25% in a rough first half. Grand Canyon shot 35% for the game.
The Ducks (5-0) turned the ball over six times in the first half, allowing Grand Canyon to find the occasional bucket, and Oregon’s shooting cooled in the second quarter. However, a strong showing from Scott in the second with a flurry of midrange jumpers helped Oregon to a 36-18 lead at the break. She led all scorers with 12 in the first half.
The Lopes came out of the break strong, moving the ball with improved speed in the third quarter and going on a 10-3 run. Midway though the third, Oregon’s lead was cut to 39-28.
The Ducks found success in transition as the third quarter progressed, taking a 46-30 lead on a three-pointer by Elisa Mevius with 2:53 left in the frame. Oregon led 50-32 through three.
Mevius hit another momentum three-pointer for the Ducks late in the fourth with the game mostly in hand, nailing one from downtown to make it 70-52 with just over a minute ago. The Ducks finished it out and remained undefeated on the season, looking ahead to a matchup with fellow undefeated Auburn.
Next game: No. 23 Oregon (5-0) vs. Auburn (3-0)
- When: Wednesday, Nov. 20
- Time: 6 p.m. PT
- Where: Matthew Knight Arena, Eugene
- TV: B1G+
— Ryan Clarke covers the Oregon Ducks and Big Ten Conference. Listen to the Ducks Confidential podcast or subscribe to the Ducks Roundup newsletter.
