Oregon's women stormed past UCLA 66-55 Saturday afternoon at McArthur Court to earn a split with the Southern California schools and end a seven game slide that began when the Ducks lost a heartbreaker to the Bruins in Los Angeles.
Kaela Chapdelaine struck for a career high 25 points - including a perfect 6-6 from three point range - to pace the Ducks to the victory.
The split for the weekend left the Ducks at 6-11 in Pac-10 play (12-16 overall) with only Oregon State remaining on the schedule.
The Bruins held the lead for most of the early stages of the game, jumping to a quick 5-1 lead in the opening four minutes. Oregon scored the next five points to take a one point lead and the two teams would exchange the advantage over the middle stretch of the first half, neither able to break away from the other.
With just under 6:30 remaining in the half, Ellie Manou took an inside feed from Chapdelaine for a lay-up and was fouled, her free throw cut the Bruin lead to one. On Oregon's next possession Chapdelaine hit for a trey to give the Ducks a one point lead and ignited a 10-4 run to the break, sending the Ducks to the locker room with a 30-23 advantage.
The Bruins erased Oregon's lead in the first five minutes of the second stanza, taking a four point lead 36-32 after a Tamika Nurse turnover.
But after an exchange of buckets, Chapdelaine hit for another three and the Ducks would not look back, quickly pushing the lead to eight after Ellyce Ironmonger and Ellie Manou each scored from inside the key and Taylor Lilley knocked down a three.
The Ducks stretched the lead to 13 with just over a minute remaining in the game, then kept the Bruins at bay by going three for four from the line as UCLA fouled Oregon to stop the clock.
"We just kept our poise. I thought the key to our success was our defensive intensity and grit," said Oregon coach Bev Smith "We talked about keeping the defensive pressure on and rebounding the ball."
"They went on a run (in the second half), and we didn't panic. We just had to get our defensive intensity back. We rebounded and got after them."
The happy smiles were a stark contrast from the disappointment of two nights earlier after the Ducks were beaten by USC 67-58.
Twenty one turnovers doomed Oregon's chances despite holding the Women of Troy to 40% shooting from the floor.
Taylor Lilley's 13 points led the Ducks in a game they would trail from the 15:00 minute mark of the opening half to the final buzzer.
"This game was a battle the whole way. In the second half we were able to get more of a flow and we were able to run our offense a little better," said forward Nicole Canepa. "But every time we got within five of them we couldn't get over the hump and close the gap. It was frustrating, but we were really fighting."
Sophomore guard Taylor Lilley was asked about the turnovers. "It's individuals making the wrong decisions at the wrong times," she said. "Our offensive system (is) breaking down at times. When we feel rushed and try to make plays that's not what we're best at."
Oregon hosts Oregon State next Saturday to close out the conference schedule. Though unlikely, with a win over the Beavers Oregon could finish in sixth place and avoid having to play on the first day of the conference tournament. To do so, Washington must be swept by the Bay Area schools in their last weekend of play, while UCLA must beat both Arizona schools and USC must lose to them both.
