Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 22, 2000)
Wednesday Best Bet NBA: Portland at Milwaukee 6 p.m., UPN SPORTS EDITOR: JEFF SMITH Smittside@aol.com Oregon beats Denver in the air up there Anthony Norwood and Bryan Bracey score a combined 45 points in leading Oregon to a victory in its first road game of the year By Jeff Smith Oregon Daily Emerald Just when the Ducks started to enter their comfort zone, the Mile High City made its presence felt and nearly forced an Oregon loss. Oregon scored the first nine points of the game Tuesday, en route to a cozy 30-14 lead over Denver. But then the suffocat ing altitude from the Rocky Mountains came into play for the Ducks, and the Pioneers took advantage, cutting the lead to 30-24. The game stayed close throughout, but Oregon (2-0) sur vived in its first road game of the year, 99-90, beating Denver in front of a sparse crowd at Magness Arena. “We hung in there and kept the lead,” Oregon head coach Ernie Kent told KUGN. “We hit that fatigue wall in this alti tude up here and we were sucking air a little bit.” Oregon guard Ben Lindquist, who knocked home a couple of big threes in his 12-point outing, said that everyone in the locker room sounded as if they had a cold afterward because of the playing conditions. “Within in the first two to three minutes everyone was coming over to coach saying, ‘I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe,’” Lindquist said. The Ducks persevered, though, and kept battling the pesky Pioneers. In a game where the newcomers had a little trouble adjusting to the road, the veterans led the way. Junior guard Anthony Norwood showcased his leadership skills, knock ing home four three-pointers to account for 12 of his game high 25 points. Bryan Bracey finished with 20 solid points, including three smooth treys from beyond the arc. “[Anthony] understood that we needed him out there, and needed his leadership,” Kent said. “And Bryan has the green light, and he hit some nice shots.” The game was Denver’s season opener, and it had been looking forward to this one all season after believing that the Ducks had ran up the score in last season’s 101-53 blowout at McArthur Court. The Pioneers only trailed 48-41 at half time, leaving their fans with much reason for hope in the sec ond half. The Ducks finally seemed to take control of the game, how ever, after two Flo Hartenstein free throws upped the lead to 61-46 with over 15 minutes left. But Denver continued to use its effective full-court defense, and took advantage of Oregon turnovers to climb right back in it. Junior guard Anthony Norwood led all scorers in Tuesday night’s victory against Denver with 25 points, which included four three-pointers. Norwood was praised by head coach Ernie Kent for his leadership and ability to play two different positions. UO women climb ranks, ready to open at The Pit Oregon looks to defend its 26-1 home opener record against Portland Friday By Scott Pesznecker Oregon Oaily Emerald Favorite dishes during the Thanksgiving holiday tend to include turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. But the Oregon women’s basketball team hopes to have feasted on Pilots by Fri day night. The No. 14 Ducks take on unranked Portland, a mem ber of the West Coast Confer ence, 7 p.m. Friday at McArthur Court. Both teams have won their last two games. Oregon has a historical ad vantage heading into Fri day’s matchup. When play ing home-opening games, the Ducks are 26-1 at The Pit. “It’s a great in-state rivalry, so we’re glad it’s at home, as usual,” Oregon head coach Jody Runge said. “We’re very excited to get to play again, I know the kids are ex cited to get better.” Oregon sailed to 14th in the Associate Press poll after defeating No. 19 North Car olina State and No. 16 Wis consin at the GlaxoWell come Invitational in Raleigh, N.C. In doing so, the Ducks toppled ranked teams in back-to-back games for the first time under head coach Jody Runge, and possibly for the first time ever in Oregon history. Stanford, now ranked No. 18, is the only other Pac-10 team in the polls. The Cardi nal was picked in preseason polls to win the conference title. “There’s pressure on us, but not as much as we could have on us,” sophomore point guard Kourtney Shreve said. “Now that we are No. 14 we’ve got to keep winning, not lose the games we’re supposed to win and let our ranking fall like last year.” Through two exhibition games and two preseason games, the Ducks have con tinued to define themselves without injured point guard Shaquala Williams, their leading scorer last season. Angelina Wolvert led Ore gon in scoring through the Turn to Women’s Basketball, page 8 Ducks make home debut during holiday weekend ■The wrestling team takes on Stanford in their home opener By Robbie McCallum Oregon Daily Emerald While others are eat ing Thanksgiving din ner and putting on a few pounds, the Oregon wrestling team will be carefully watching its weight while it prepares for its upcoming dual match against Stanford. “Our guys are used to the holidays being around wrestling sea son,” head coach Chuck Kearney said. “But they’ll have some turkey.” The Ducks make their 2000-01 home debut Sunday at MacArthur Court, hoping to make turkeys out of the visit ing Stanford Cardinal. Action begins at 2 p.m. and admission is free. “There’s noplace like home,” Kearney said. “Mac court is a great wrestling venue. It gives people of Eugene a chance to come out and support us.” Oregon brings in a 1-0 Pacific-10 Conference record against rival Stanford. The Cardinal sport a 1-0 non-confer ence record. Stanford “is a solid team with no weak ar eas,” Kearney said. “They’re a team in the top half of the Pac-10.” The match could be the season opener for Oregon star Doug Lee. The senior All-Ameri can had to sit out the Ducks’ first two compe titions with an ankle sprain. Although Lee is working out with the team, he is listed as probable for Sunday’s match. There will still be plenty of excitement in other weight classes, as the rest of the Ducks hope to carry their mo mentum from the last two competitions into the match. Oregon had a good showing at Satur day’s Southern Oregon Open and dominated a dual match against UC Davis. Senior Chael Sonnen, the second-highest ranked Duck, is ranked fifth nationally at the 197-pound class and will take on Stanford’s Fred Luminoso. Elsewhere, three oth er Ducks bring perfect records into the match. Junior Shaun Williams and sophomores Tony Overstake and Brian Watson all won their weight classes at South ern Oregon after dual match victories against UC-Davis. Sophomore Casey Hunt is 5-1 on the sea son with the lone loss coming from Boise State’s Gabe Vigil. “When you have guys that are 5-0, 6-0, it’s a Turn to Wrestling, page 8 a There’s no place like home. Mac court is a great wrestling venue. It gives people of Eugene a chance to come out and sup port us. Chuck Kearney Wrestling Coach yy
