Adam Amato Emerald
Much as she has done throughout the season, senior Edniesha Curry has an uncanny ability to bring the crowd to its feet with her defensive
intensity. She said her energy “is always high,” and she is excited about the Pac-10 Tournament.
A Balancing Act
■Shaquala Williams and
Edniesha Curry have led
the Ducks to their ninth straight
winning season
By Hank Hager
Oregon Daily Emerald
Washington State is the sacrifi
cial lamb of the inaugural Pacific
10 Conference Tournament.
But when you really think about
it, the Cougars belong to Edniesha
Curry and Shaquala Williams.
The Ducks’ superstar backcourt
duo has finally begun to mesh to
their full ability, giving Oregon a
lethal one-two punch unchal
lenged by any school in the con
ference. And with the tournament
coming this weekend, their abili
ty to gel could not have come at a
better time.
“It took a lot of time,” Curry said
about gelling with Williams. “You
have two great backcourt players
and it took time for us to get used to
each other and what each other’s
strengths are on the court.
“I think we’re coming together as
one at the right time.”
The right time begins tonight,
when Oregon and Washington
State meet at 6:30 p.m. to kick off
the first-ever women’s Pac-10 Tour
nament at McArthur Court.
Williams, a junior from Portland,
has not disappointed this season.
After sitting out last season because
of a torn anterior cruciate ligament
suffered before last season, she has
knocked down jumpers with preci
sion. Her 17.4 points per game were
good enough for second in the con
ference. and with 18.4 during Pac
10 play, she is unmatched.
Curry, on the other hand, has
been a breath of fresh air for a pro
gram in need of some renewal.
A transfer from Cal State North
ridge, the senior sat out last season,
a requirement for all transfers. Giv
en a starting role this year, Curry
has taken every opportunity to im
press, placing in the top 10 in the
Pac-10 in steals (1.79 per game) and
assists (3.29).
“They’re two great guards,
On Tap
Who: Oregon vs.
Washington State
What: Pac-10
Tournament
When: Today,
630 p.m.
Where: McArthur
Court
TV: KEZI |Ch.9)
by just themselves, they’d be an
outright leader.”
It has been said that opposites at
tract. In Williams and Curry’s case,
it’s the law.
Curry is the fire, and Williams is
the ice. Curry is the “energizer bun
ny,” and Williams is the stoic pres
ence. However you slice it, the two
have come to understand that they
balance each other out.
“During the game, she probably
shows more emotion and I’ve got
more of the straight face, but be
hind closed doors, she’s probably
a little more calm than I am,”
Williams said. “On the court we’re
a little bit different. She’s definite
ly more of an emotional leader
and I am someone who will lead
by example.
“I think it’s good to have that
balance.”
Against Washington State last
week, the two were on target.
Williams hit 9-of-9 shots from the
field, and knocked down four treys.
Curry, on the other hand, scored
only six points, but assisted on nine
they’re two
great individ
uals and they
have two great
personalities,”
first-year Ore
gon head
coach Bev
Smith said.
“Personally, I
give them a lot
of credit be
cause had
they been on
another team,
Oregon baskets.
“I take different aspects to the
game,” Curry said. “Whether the
team needs me offensively or de
fensively, that’s the thing I have to
judge being the point guard of this
team. Shaquala was on and it’s my
job to make sure she gets the ball.”
When these two are on, there’s
no stopping them.
“They certainly played great bas
ketball when they came to Pullman
last week,” Washington State head
coach Jenny Przekwas said. “The
combination of the two has been
outstanding and they shot the ball
very well.”
Because Williams, the 2000 Pac
10 Player of the Year, has been
with the Ducks for two full sea
sons and one redshirt year, Duck
fans knew very well coming into
the season what to expect from the
5-foot-6 sensation. What they did
n’t know, however, was how well
she would respond after having
surgery last season.
Their questions have been
answered.
“With Shaquala, everyone knows
she is pretty much on an even
keel,” Smith said. “They look for
her in moments where we might
need something to happen in the
game and she’s able to do that,
Turn to Guards, page 8B
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