Oregon Women Keep Rolling, Improve to 11-1 with Statement Win Ahead of Big Ten Stretch
The Oregon Ducks might still be flying under the national radar, but they’re making plenty of noise where it counts - on the court. With a commanding 69-44 win over the Bobcats on Sunday afternoon at Matthew Knight Arena, the Ducks moved to 11-1 on the season, and they’re doing it with a mix of sharp shooting, gritty defense, and a team-first mentality that’s becoming their calling card.
They didn’t start this one on fire - trailing 8-5 early - but once they found their rhythm, it was all Ducks from there. Mia Jacobs sparked the run with a three-pointer off a kick-out from Sofia Bell to tie the game, and then the roles reversed as Bell buried one from deep off an assist from Ari Long. Jacobs followed that with another triple, again set up by Bell, and just like that, Oregon had flipped the script and taken control.
By the end of the first quarter, Oregon led 21-10. By halftime, the scoreboard read 37-14. That’s not just a lead - that’s defensive dominance and offensive efficiency working in perfect harmony.
What’s making this team click right now is their unselfish play and trust in each other. Bell, Jacobs, and Long combined to go 9-for-18 from beyond the arc, a stat that speaks as much to their shot-making as it does to their ball movement. When the Ducks are swinging the ball like that, they’re a tough group to slow down.
And then there’s Ehis Etute. The sophomore came off the bench and put in a workmanlike 20 minutes, racking up 12 rebounds, three assists, eight points, a steal, and a block.
That’s the kind of stat line that doesn’t just show up in the box score - it changes the energy of a game. Etute’s presence was felt on both ends, and she continues to be a difference-maker in Oregon’s second unit.
Defensively, the Ducks were relentless. They forced 23 turnovers and held the Bobcats to just two field goals in the second quarter. Head coach Kelly Graves was quick to praise his team’s effort on that end.
“I loved our defensive intensity. I thought we were on point tonight,” Graves said.
“They only had two field goals set in the quarter... So, in their half-court, they made one basket the entire quarter.
That’s getting it done.”
And he’s right - that kind of lockdown defense doesn’t happen by accident. It’s a product of preparation, communication, and effort. Oregon brought all three.
Now comes the real test.
The Ducks face Portland and Stanford this week, but all eyes are already on December 29, when they take on No. 6 Michigan.
That game marks the beginning of Big Ten play - and it’s a gauntlet. The conference is stacked this year, with 11 teams off to 9-1, 10-2, or better starts.
Powerhouses like UCLA, Michigan, Iowa, USC, Maryland, and Ohio State are all ranked, and both Maryland (12-0) and Nebraska (11-0) are still undefeated.
If Oregon wants to keep building a tournament résumé, they’ll have every opportunity - and every challenge - in front of them. But if Sunday’s performance is any indication, this team has the pieces, the chemistry, and the mindset to make some serious noise.
They’re not ranked - yet. But that might not last much longer.