Box Score Eugene, Ore. – Malena Washington set a career high with 23 points, but the Arizona Wildcats fell to Oregon 76-54 Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena.
Washington was 9 of 15 from the floor and hit three 3-pointers for the Wildcats. The 23 points surpassed Washington's previous career high of 21, which was set earlier this season against Pacific. Her nine makes from the floor also set a new career high.
But Oregon proved to be too much, hitting nine 3-pointers, led by Kat Cooper, who was 6 of 9 from deep. Oregon's Jillian Alleyne also had a big night with 18 points and 10 rebounds. She was 8 of 10 from the floor. The Ducks hit nine of 21 3-pointers and shot 56 percent from the floor in the win.
“We just didn't do what we were supposed to defensively; we didn't follow the game plan,” coach Niya Butts said after the game. “We have to figure it out. It's my job to get them ready to play and we didn't do that tonight.”
Oregon was able to overcome a hot start from the Wildcats to post the win.
Arizona shot 62 percent from the floor in the first quarter, hitting eight of 13 shots. LaBrittney Jones led the way, scoring six points and hitting three of her five field goal attempts. Arizona also outrebounded Oregon in the opening 10 minutes, seven to four.
The Wildcats started strong offensively and built an early lead. Leading 13-11, the Cats got back-to-back buckets from freshmen Michal Miller and A'Shanti Coleman to take a 17-11 lead with 1:15 to play in the opening quarter. The Ducks quickly responded and went on a 7-0 run to end the quarter and take an 18-17 lead going into the second. Maite Cazorla banked in a 3-pointer as time expired in the quarter to put the Ducks up.
Breanna Workman opened the scoring in the second quarter with a corner jumper to give Arizona the lead back at 19-18. But Oregon again answered, this time going on an 8-0 run to take a 26-19 lead. Washington scored the next five points for Arizona, including a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock, to help Arizona carve into the lead at 28-24.
The Ducks outscored the Wildcats 9-2 over the final 4:55 of the half to stretch the lead back to 11 at 37-26 at halftime. The Wildcats shot 48 percent from the floor in the half, connecting on 11 of 23 shots. Arizona also won the rebounding battle 13-12.
Jones finished with 14 points and three rebounds for the Wildcats in the loss. She hit a pair of 3-pointers in the fourth quarter. It was the third straight game Jones scored in double figures.
Washington scored in double figures for the 13th time this season and surpassed the 20-point mark for the second time.
“She helped us and made some shots for us tonight,” Butts said. “Thankfully she was able to hit a few, because we were turning the ball over a lot early. But I liked the fact that Malena can put the ball in the hole for us.”
Arizona returns to action next on Friday with a home contest against USC. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m., MST, and will be broadcasted by Pac-12 Networks.
