Behind the dominance of the only four-year player on its roster, the Oregon women’s basketball team defeated Rutgers Sunday on senior day, 77-58.
Four-year standout Phillipina Kyei became just the fourth Duck ever to record a 20-point, 20-rebound double-double, scoring 20 points to go along with 25 rebounds — good for the third-best single game total in program history.
“It was a great day,” Kyei said. “A very emotional day for me and I was so happy that everyone was here to witness us play basketball.”
Kyei was joined by five other players for senior day festivities, but is the only player remaining from Oregon’s 2021 recruiting class, with the rest being transfers. She’s just the third player since Sabrina Ionescu and Ruthy Hebard’s graduation in 2020 to start and finish their career in Eugene over four years, joining Lydia Giomi (2021) and Nyara Sabally (2022).
Graves said he owes Kyei a lot following the game.
“She’s meant so much to the program,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. “She’s been here for the highs and the lows and she’s just been a steady force within the program … she’s invested into the University of Oregon. She loves the fans, she’s appreciative of the fans and you can tell they appreciate her and love her back.”
Kyei’s incredible effort outshined a strong game among Oregon’s large group of seniors honored postgame, which include Peyton Scott, Deja Kelly, Alexis Whitfield, Nani Falatea and Salimatou Kourouma.
Kelly scored 19 points and Scott added 15.
Oregon women’s basketball puts away Rutgers in fourth quarter after tough first three frames
The Ducks (19-9, 10-7 Big Ten) started a quintet of seniors, and though that group got off to a slow beginning, it picked it up in the second quarter to give Oregon a 34-26 lead at the halftime break.
Kyei had 10 points and 12 rebounds in just 16 minutes in the first half, while Kelly, a guard, led the Ducks with seven points. UO trailed by three after the first quarter but outscored Rutgers, 20-9, in the second frame, capped by a 10-2 run to close the half.
The third quarter was again a struggle for Oregon, which was outscored 18-17 in the frame, but a dominant, 26-14 fourth quarter sealed the victory for the Ducks.
The Ducks outrebounded the Scarlet Knights 45-34, outscored them 46-28 in the paint and had 15 bench points to Rutgers’ 10.
“I think we’re playing pretty well,” Graves said. “Our offense is starting to click a little bit. Struggled a little bit tonight but that’s starting to come around. Unfortunately our defense has let down, but we defended well tonight. If we can put those two together we have a chance to be a really good team and a tough out in whatever tournament we’re playing in.”
What’s next for Oregon women’s basketball?
The Ducks have one last regular-season game, against rival Washington in Seattle next Sunday. After that, Oregon heads to Indianapolis for the Big Ten Tournament.
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: Phillipina Kyei stars for Oregon women in senior day win vs. Rutgers
