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Davis leads Ducks, heads hot night for reserves Tim Kupsick Freelance Photographer Oregon junior Brandi Davis (21) hit the game-winning shot with 4.9 seconds remaining. Brandi Davis came off the bench to lead the Ducks with 16 points, including the game winner in the last minute By Mindi Rice Senior Sports Reporter The last time Chelsea Wagner at tempted a two-point basket, she was practicing with her teammates. The redshirt sophomore guard was on the court for 25 minutes Sat urday against Oregon State — as many or more minutes than four of Oregon's starters — and attempted 11 three-point shots. Five of them went in as Wagner scored 15 points off the bench in Oregon's 56-54 victory against Ore gon State. "We think we have some very good (three-point) shooters," head coach Bev Smith said. "Obviously, Chelsea's a great shooter, Brandi (Davis) is a good shooter. We need to get them into a rhythm and find those opportunities. I think you saw Brandi's athleticism tonight. She was very hot and she was in the zone." Davis came off the bench to lead the Ducks with 16 points. She scored 12 of those in the last nine minutes of the game, including a jumper just inside the three-point line to give Oregon the lead with 4.9 seconds left. "I felt a lot of confidence after the first shot," Davis said. "I was just re ally determined to go out there and hit some key baskets for us. "We have a team that anyone can have a great night; anyone can come off the bench. Ashley Allen, she had one of those key assists to Carolyn (Ganes) and that really got the team going. We're all little spark plugs, there's just certain nights when it happens for each of us." Allen played for two minutes in the first half. Her only number in the statistical line is one assist — a pass to Ganes with 47 seconds re maining in the first half for a layup that cut the Beavers' lead to 26-23. Ganes, Yadili Okwumabua and Kayla Steen contributed from the bench. The three averaged 18 min utes, with each adding their specialty to the mix. Steen had two points and four as sists while primarily sharing point guard duties with starter Corrie Mizusawa. Okwumabua pulled down three rebounds. "(The bench was) absolutely the key to the game," Smith said. "It was a great team effort. I think everybody really gave us just a strong feel that we've got a great team and we can play that way." Ganes, playing on a sprained ankle, hadn't practiced since Wednesday. The sophomore was on the court for 18 minutes, grabbing five re bounds and six points while playing on an ankle that Smith called "the color of my Christmas tree. "The doctors and our physiothera py staff were veiy impressed that she was even able to play," Smith said. "She's tough as nails and she knew this was an important game for us." Wagner and Okwumabua both credited the bench with playing just as important a role off the court, en couraging their teammates from the sidelines. "From the five starters to the last person off the bench, it's important because everyone has to be in the game," Okwumabua said. "When the game starts, the five people on the court have to get the energy go ing and it's so important that the bench players keep that going." Contact the senior sports reporter at mindirice@dailyemerald.com. FIRST WIN continued from page 7 the Ducks overcome a 45-37 deficit. Along with the late game heroics of Davis was an impressive shooting dis play by Wagner. Each of Wagner's five three-pointers was a momentum swinger. The Ducks fell behind 36-29 five minutes into the second half when Wagner drilled three-pointers on con secutive possessions to pull Oregon within one. Her final three came with 6:49 remaining and was part of a 19-9 Duck ran over the final 10 minutes. "Chelsea Wagner and Brandi Davis — that's the difference in the ball game right there," Oregon State head coach Judy Spoelstra said. "We told our kids all week that those two can go off and get hot." Wagner finished with 15 points without attempting a two-point field goal. Andrea Bills added 11 points and a team-high six rebounds. Oregon State was in control for most of the game and didn't trail from the 17:33 mark of the first half until 6:14 remained in the contest. The Beavers were previously 6-0 when leading at the half. Entering the game, there were three areas of concern for Oregon. The Ducks had been struggling against pressure defense, falling behind early and not grabbing a rebound when they needed one Oregon improved on the first two Saturday, but its rebound ing struggles continued. Oregon State dominated inside, out-rebounding the Ducks 39-27. Beaver center Brina Chaney was Oregon's main nemesis under the basket, grabbing a game-high 13 re bounds. The 6-foot-5 center added 14 points for her second double double of the season. Shannon Howell once again had a productive night offensively for the Beavers, finishing with a game-high 24 points on 9 of 20 shooting. It was the fourth consecutive 20-point game for the junior transfer from Nebraska. Smith was quick to point out the quality defensive job Wagner did against Howell. "Chelsea did a great job defensively," Smith said. "She really made Shannon Howell work tonight. Howell is a great player, but she had to earn every single one of her points tonight." The Oregon defense also held Esta van in check. The senior guard was held scoreless for the first time in 83 games, dating back to Feb. 15,2001. Contact the sports reporter atjonroetman@dailyemerald.com. DRAFT continued from page 7 Bowl, he had four tackles and a fum ble recovery. "Igor has come a long way in all respects," Bellotti said. "His under standing of the game and his understanding of what team play and competition was. He's a tremen dous worker, and in the NFL, where numbers are important, his num bers will be awesome, in terms of his strength, his speed and his explosive abilities. He brought that to the table immediately." Olshansky declined to say whether he had signed with an agent yet. He did say that he will be training in Southern California and that "there's no guaran tees and there's probably no validity in my expectations, so my job is to just train my best and perform up to my abilities. I realize that I could only do so much and whatever falls into place, falls into place" The Ducks now will be left with one starter from the defensive line in 2004, end Devan Long. Overall, Oregon returns five defensive starters, not in cluding Ngata. Bellotti said the Ducks were ready to sign six defensive line man for the 2004 recruiting class and that number may reach seven because of Olshansky's departure. That, however, is not set, Bellotti added. "Last year's defensive line was the best defensive line in Oregon's history," Long said. "To top that, it's going to be hard, but it's definitely not out of our limits because the tal ent level on the defensive line is very high again. It's just a matter of who wants it more. If we're going to work hard like we did last year to improve more, then it's very possible." Contact the sports editor at hankhageii@dailyemerald.com. OFFENSE continued from page 7 Davis had a solid night with five three-pointers, helping him to 17 points. His other numbers are iden tical to Lincoln's with two assists and two turnovers. Oregon had a season-low 10 assists on the night. Coming into the matchup, the Ducks averaged a little more than 18 assists per game. "It was definitely an adjustment," Davis said. 'I think it's something we're going to overcome It's someone we're definitely going to miss. We're praying he gets better every day. "Me and Brandon are going to have to step up and carry the load a lot better than we did tonight." When Lincoln and Davis weren't bringing the ball up, Jackson took over the point guard duties. More of ten than not down the stretch, Jack son had the ball in his hands com ing up the court. "I was just bringing the ball up for a different offensive look," Jackson said. "I kind of like bringing the ball up. I did it in high school. I'm used to it." Lincoln said he'll be better pre pared for the next game and for now it is time to go back to the drawing board and put in the work. Lincoln is averaging 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game, including Saturday's contest. It was apparent in Gill Coliseum on Saturday night that Oregon still has some kinks to work out in the point guard spot. Oregon needs to find a way to maneuver the ball like they once did. Contact the sports reporter at jessethomas@dailyemerald.com. 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