Oregon daily emerald., January 10, 2001, Page 9, Image 9

Women’s
continued from page 7
the Ducks with 13.7 points per
game. “I think Texas plays a lot
quicker game than us.”
Oregon was hampered by foul
troubles, with Texas converting 22
of 25 from the line, while Oregon
could only muster a 9-for-19 per
formance from the charity stripe.
“Texas is a good team,” senior
center Jenny Mowe said. “They
didn’t get the respect they de
served in the preseason, but they
were ready for us, and we came
out flat.”
Four nights later, in Lubbock,
Texas, the Ducks looked to get
back on the winning track and
spoil No. 11 Texas Tech’s 34-game
home winning streak. The wins
continued for Texas Tech, as Ore
gon lost a hard-fought battle in
overtime, 79-75.
The Ducks had a season-high 32
turnovers in front of 12,822 fans at
the United Spirit Arena, including
five in the five-minute overtime
session.
Dec. 16 was another disappoint
ing day for the Ducks, as Utah
forced Oregon to commit 21
turnovers. Utah held Wolvert to
zero points in just eight minutes,
while the Ducks shot a season low
35 percent from the floor.
“We didn't shoot the ball well,”
Runge said. “We didn’t hit open
outside shots. Utah had a great
game plan and executed it well.
We have been very lethargic.”
Senior forward Brianne Meharry
sprained her left ankle against the
Utes and missed Oregon’s next two
games.
The one-week falter was Ore
gon’s first three-game slide since
the 1995-96 season.
Laura Smit Emerald
Sophomore Kourtney Shreve is averaging 7.0 points and 1.8 rebounds per game.
ii wdii d xuiig iuau irip, saia
Mowe, who is pacing Oregon with
a .589 field goal percentage and 5.6
rebounds per game. “We had to
step back after that and figure out
what our goals are for this year.
And that definitely helped us refo
cus.”
Rest and refocus proved won
ders for the lingering Ducks, who
went on to win their final two
games in December, and their first
two to open the year 2001. In its fi
nal tune-up before the Pac-10
opener, Oregon demolished Boise
State 67-29 — the lowest point to
tal Oregon has ever held an oppo
nent.
Additionally, Oregon won its
Pac-10 opener at Oregon State last
week, 71-67 (although it was the
closest Civil War in four years.)
Meharry made her return against
the Beavers and led the Ducks
Wrestling
continued from page 7
impressed the national pollsters.
The Ducks placed sixth at the
Reno Tournament of Champions,
placing four wrestlers. Webb con
tinued his tear in recent matches,
earning three wins en route to Ore
gon’s only finals appearance.
Junior’s Shaun Williams and
Eugene Harris each placed third at
125 and 157 pounds, respectively.
Oregon faced stiffer competition
the week after Christmas at the
Midlands tournament in
Evanston, 111. Although only three
Ducks placed, their points were
good enough for 10th place out of
53 teams.
Sonnen led the Oregon contin
gent, placing third while knocking
off a ranked opponent from Iowa
State.
“Chael wrestled very consistent
and very controlled,” Kearney
said. “I’m pleased with how he
wrestled and his loss came to a de
fending national champion.”
The matches that may have
taught Oregon players the most,
however, were the three losses
they sustained earlier this month.
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and
Iowa — three of the greatest
wrestling powerhouses in the na
tion, who between them have won
60 of the last 73 NCAA titles —
were all on the Oregon schedule
within a period of five days.
“We scheduled tough oppo
nents so we could compete against
the best wrestlers,” Kearney said.
“When you wrestle against top
teams, you need to finish matches
and fight through tough situa
tions.”
On Jan. 2, Oregon put up a
tough fight against No. 6 Okla
homa, but dug themselves too
deep a hole. After falling behind
24-0, Lee sparked a valiant come
back with a technical fall over the
Sooners’ Nick Curcio. Sonnen,
Webb, Williams and sophomore
Brian Watson followed with wins
but it was too little, too late. Final
score: Oklahoma 24, Oregon 21 in
Norman, Okla.
The next day Oregon traveled
82 miles up 1-35 to face No. 2 Ok
lahoma State in Stillwater. The
road-weary Ducks ran out of gas
against the Cowboys, who fielded
CC Chael wrestled very
consistent and very con
trolled. I'm pleased with
how he wrestled and his
loss came to a defending
national champion.
Chuck Kearney
Head coach
nine ranked wrestlers to Oregon’s
five.
Williams won a 9-7 overtime
nailbiter over Oklahoma State’s
Matt Brown for the Ducks lone
score. Final score: Oklahoma State
33, Oregon 3.
Oregon faces easier times ahead
with mostly in-state matches for
the rest of the season. The Ducks
will travel to Portland on Friday
for the Oregon Classic Duals,
where they will face four teams in
one day.
with 24 points.
Now, the Ducks seem to be back
on track, and back up to the 20th
spot in the polls. They know that
some people may have doubts
about them due to their December
losing streak, but the Ducks don’t
mind.
Oregon knows what it can do
and is poised and ready to battle
California (4-8, 0-2) and Stanford
(7-5, 1-1) at McArthur Court this
week in two big Pac-10 games.
And, as the story goes, the
Ducks are nearly unbeatable at
home under Runge, who has com
piled an impressive 81-17 record
in her eight years at The Pit.
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