Oregon Women Grind Out Two Wins, Take Down Washington and Minnesota

By Joel Paul

EUGENE, Ore. — The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team showed its toughness in a hard-fought week, securing consecutive victories over Washington and Minnesota. The Ducks edged their longtime rival, the Huskies, 68-67 at Matthew Knight Arena on Feb. 12 before traveling to Minneapolis and defeating the Golden Gophers 76-70 in a gritty road performance.

Kelly Takes Over in Rivalry Thriller

Oregon battled through a tense matchup against Washington in a game that saw multiple lead changes down the stretch. The Ducks were led by standout guard Deja Kelly, who took control offensively with 21 points while shooting 50% from the field and 83.3% from the free-throw line.

Fellow guard Elisa Mevius provided a spark on both ends of the floor, finishing with 14 points, four assists, and three steals while shooting an efficient 50.5% from the field and hitting all of her free throws.

Center Phillipina Kyei added 11 points and five rebounds, shooting 40% from the field and also converting all of her free throws.

Oregon held firm in the closing moments, making key defensive stops and knocking down late free throws to seal the victory.

Ducks Overcome Minnesota on the Road

Following the emotional win over Washington, Oregon carried its momentum into Minneapolis, fending off a late push from Minnesota to pick up a 76-70 victory.

Kelly once again led the charge, scoring 20 points while adding five rebounds and seven assists. She shot 42.9% from the field, 77.8% from the free-throw line, and knocked down one three-pointer.

Mevius continued her strong play, pouring in 19 points while shooting an astounding 87.5% from the field. She was lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of 5 three-pointers (80%). The guard also tallied three assists and three steals.

Forward Alexis Whitfield stepped up with 13 points, three rebounds, and two steals while shooting 85.7% from the field.

Kyei had a quieter scoring night with just four points but made her presence felt on the boards with eight rebounds and two blocks.

Takeaways and What’s Next

The Ducks showed their resilience, grinding out back-to-back wins in games that required composure down the stretch. Kelly’s leadership and scoring ability shined, while Mevius’ efficiency and defensive presence gave Oregon an added boost.

Oregon now turns its attention to Nebraska, looking to extend its winning streak and continue building momentum as postseason play approaches.