The Oregon women’s basketball team’s 80-48 loss to Michigan Sunday afternoon was uncharacteristic in a number of ways, spoiling what had been a productive road trip already for a group flying high heading into the weekend.
Fresh off a statement 63-59 win over No. 16 Michigan State in East Lansing on Thursday, the Ducks (16-6, 7-4 Big Ten) couldn’t keep up any of their previous momentum in the crushing loss and finished yet another Big Ten road trip 1-1.
The loss snaps a four-game win streak, with the latest three games coming against teams ranked in the top 40 of the NCAA’s NET rankings.
“We played tired,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves told KUGN radio after the game. “We didn’t play with the same intensity or enthusiasm that we did the other night and that we need to when we’re on the road … it happens to every team. It just doesn’t work. That’s what happened tonight.”
The Ducks, who had been holding opponents to conference-best 58.5 points per game in Big Ten play, gave up more than 70 points for the first time in conference, 80 for the first time this season and allowed the Wolverines (15-7, 6-5) to shoot 53.6% from the field. Oregon had just six points off 14 Wolverine turnovers and were outrebounded 37-29.
Oregon coach Kelly Graves says he wants to find more time for freshman Katie Fiso in future
The offensive end wasn’t much better for a team not built for big comebacks. The Ducks shot 29.5% from the field, and after starting 4 for 5 from 3-point range, finished the game 1 for 14.
Center Phillipina Kyei led the Ducks with 11 points and eight rebounds while freshman Katie Fiso added 11 points in 24 minutes off the bench.
Though Kyei got loose in the first half a few times for easy buckets, with Oregon holding a significant size advantage against a guard-heavy Wolverine lineup, Graves was disappointed with UO’s post play. He said after the game that if Oregon can’t establish itself inside and assert an advantage in the post, other teams can feast with quicker, faster lineups with better shooting.
Conversely, he was pleased with how Fiso played, tying a career-high 11 points.
“She’s the real thing,” Graves said. “She can really play. It’s just one game. I’m not going to overreact but I have to do a better job of finding some time for her.”
Michigan freshmen duo Olivia Olson and Mila Holloway had 18 and 19 points, respectively, while shooting a combined 14 of 23 from the field and 3 for 5 from distance.
“They gotta flush it,” Graves said. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, we can’t get down, we’ve got to get back to neutral as quick as we can.”
What’s next for Oregon women’s basketball?
The Ducks return home from their road trip to a pair of top-15 teams, with the first coming on Thursday against No. 14 Maryland at Matthew Knight Arena.
Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on X @AlecDietz.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon women’s basketball trips up on the road vs. Michigan
