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QuickTake:
Although the Ducks’ center was snubbed for conference postseason awards, her talent was on full display against the Boilermakers.
Kelly Graves had his qualms with the way his Oregon Ducks ended the game.
Once up by 26, the Ducks couldn’t put Purdue away, allowing the Boilermakers back to within 12 at one point in the fourth quarter before Oregon finally finished things off 82-64 in the first round of the Women’s Big Ten Tournament.
An up-and-down game wasn’t exactly unexpected for a young Oregon team playing in a mostly empty arena in Indianapolis.
The important thing was the result.
“I’m happy we won,” Graves said.
But a significant contributor to Oregon’s win was on Graves’ mind toward the end of his press conference.
Ehis Etute had 16 points, 12 rebounds and a pair of blocks in 20 minutes. The only thing that slowed Oregon’s 6-foot center was Graves, who minded her minutes due to foul trouble.
It’s the type of performance that’s become routine for Etute, which is why Graves was so surprised by Tuesday’s Big Ten postseason awards, which left the Oregon sophomore off any of its teams.
Graves didn’t get it.
“It’s a shame she didn’t receive any kind of mention in our all-conference,” Graves said. “She averaged 15.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. Top-five in field goal percentage and No. 1 in rebound percentage.
“She’s a heck of a talent.”
That talent was on full display in Indy.
Yes, the Ducks may have been outscored by five points in the second half, but it didn’t matter because Etute was so good early in the game. Etute had 8 points and 7 rebounds in the first quarter. She closed off the quarter by driving at 6-foot-7 Avery Smith, spinning to her left and finishing through a sea of hands.
“Before the game I had film with (assistant coach Tre Simmons), and he told me I should use my speed rather than power them up, because that’ll be much easier for me,” Etute said. “So I think that was one of the key factors.”
Etute subbed out after drawing her second foul with Oregon leading 28-20 with 6:48 to play in the first half. What had Graves feeling good about Oregon’s next game is the Ducks found another gear from there, pushing its lead to 23 by the end of the half.
Katie Fiso finished with a game-high 20 points, Mia Jacobs’ 14 was her most in a month, and Astera Tuhina’s 9 points came with a perfect 6-of-6 performance at the free throw line.
The Ducks missed only two of their 29 free throws all night.
“When we move the ball, when we distribute the ball to all players on the court, we’re dangerous,” Fiso said. “We have a lot of threats on the floor.”
Graves’ only nitpick was a second half that didn’t allow him to get his starters enough rest.
“If we hope to win this thing it’s a five-game gauntlet, for crying out loud,” Graves said. “So any minutes you can give your kids on the bench, you take them.”
Oregon advanced to face No. 6 seed Maryland, whom the Ducks beat 68-61 in College Park back in January. It’s a quick turnaround — the Ducks and Terrapins will tip off just 23 hours after this one ended — and Graves said the team will skip its scheduled shootaround Thursday morning and instead opt for sleep.
The key to victory? It could be Etute again: She had 26 points and 11 rebounds in that January win.
“She’s a warrior,” Graves said. “We just have to keep her on the floor and keep her out of foul trouble.”
