Basketball Continued from Page 7 Oregon's defensive play will have an affect on where the team finishes this season. It has become a trademark under Runge, who says defense wins games. Since Runge took over the program in 1993, Oregon has finished high in the Pac-10 in scoring defense, in cluding finishing first in both 1995 and 1996. Last year the Ducks finished second, allowing only 66.7 points per game. Still, it is an area in which Runge and her players see room for improvement. "We have been much better in the past at defending on the ball," Runge said. "We have not had to give a lot of help, so we aren't very good at that. Either we have to get better on the ball and not help so much or we have to be come much better at help de fense." Perhaps Oregon's most explo sive defensive play comes from 5-8 senior Lisa Bowyer. The Aus tralia native ranked first on the team in steals with 42 last sea son. She returns this year to an chor the Ducks' defensive game. But for Oregon to reach the level that Runge expects, all of the Ducks will need to step up. "Right now we’re lacking uni ty," Meharry said. “1 think as in dividuals we all have the defen sive skills, but we need to work on bringing it together as a team. It will come with experience." Oregon's depth will be tested in a difficult conference this sea son. Last season, sophomore An gelina Wolvert and senior Sonja Curtis stepped up for the injured Mowe and Meharry, gaining valuable time and experience. Both Wolvert and Curtis re sponded to the challenge, as Wolvert led the team in rebounds and Curtis led the Pac-10 in free throw shooting and was third on the team in steals. Joining Bowyer in the back court is point guard Karen Piers, who shares time with freshman Shaquala Williams. Piers is cur rently the starter as she has had a year to adjust to the type of play required in the Pac-10, but Williams' speed and athleticism off the bench adds fire to Ore gon's offense. "I think the depth helps every one," Wolvert said. "If something goes wrong, there's always some one to pull out. Also, it enables us to play up tempo throughout the game." Soccer Continued from Page 7 James Madison to make it out of its bracket and into the quarterfi nals. Like the World Cup, each team will get three points for a victory, one point for each tie and no points for a loss. The team with the most points from the three games will move on to the next round. In the case of a tie, the to tal number of goals will be used to determine the winner of the bracket. The Ducks will play two games today, the first against the Univer sity of Houston followed by an af ternoon contest against the host, Georgia Southern. Friday morn ing, Oregon will face the last team in its bracket, James Madison. Depending on the outcome of their first three games, the Ducks would then play their quarterfi nals match later Friday after noon. While this year's team may be young and less experienced than in the past, the players feel they are more balanced this year. Both Minckler and Wilbur feel the de fense has improved. Sweeper “Danny Platt will hold up the defense," Minckler said. Wilbur said the Ducks’ goalie play will also be a key to the de fense. "Goalie Dave Woodworth will do well once he gets back from his ankle injury," Wilbur said. While Platt said he agrees with his teammates, he also said the of fense is the best part of this year's squad. "The strength of the team is ac tually the scoring ability," Platt said. "We have a lot of talented guys up front." Among those talented forwards are Ben Ehlert and Wright. "Ben is one of our leading goal scorers, he’s a really fast player," Wright said. Minckler said Wright holds down the forwards as a unit. "I think that Chad is a really hard worker," Minckler said, "And we have a balanced of fense." Helping to balance the offense will be the midfield unit headed by center halfback Olaf Wolf. 00501:. I=! o ts o TZ5 Winter Term 1999 Take a pE class For More Information: a) Web site: http://darkwlng.uoregon.edu/~pars b) Schedule of Classes — pgs. 100-103 c) Call 346-4105 d) All of the above Recreation The Mission is Clear. $ 100 Bonus if you work everyday through Dec. 24th. UPS MUST DELIVER THOUSANDS OF EXTRA HOLIDAY PACKAGES IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. If you live in Portland or Tualatin You Gan Help! If you are enthusiastic & need extra holiday money, work with a UPS driver this December. A Driver Helper ... . . . makes $7/hour ... is available 4 - 6 hours per day . . . works 2 weeks, through Dec. 24. ... is at least 18 years of age. . . . complies with UPS appearance guidelines. Positions available statewide. Call the Career Center at 346-3235for more info. Interviews will be conducted on November 24th from 9am-4pm in the Metolius and Owyhee Rooms in the EMU. Every year the Japanese Government invites young people from the U.S. to participate in this unique program, to serve as Assistant Language Teachers or Coordinators for International Relations. Application Deadline is December 8.1998. on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program Applicants must be: •U.S. Citizens •Hold a Bachelor’s Degree by July 1999 For an application or more information call 1-800-info-jet or the Consulate General of Japan in Portland at (503) 221-1811 ext. 14. Recycle • Recycle • Recycle • Recycle