Wyoming Knocks Oregon Out of WNIT

Kaela Chapdelaine scored 12 points for Oregon, all on 3-pointers.

Freshman Taylor Lilley was clutch with three second-half three-pointers in UO's loss at Wyoming. Photo: goducks.com

LARAMIE, Wyo. - Hanna Zavecz scored 18 points and Justyna Podziemska hit three big 3-pointers to lead Wyoming to a 64-62 victory over Oregon Thursday night in the third round of the WNIT.

The Cowgirls (24-9) will play at home Sunday against South Dakota State (26-5) in the quarterfinals — the farthest Wyoming has ever advanced in postseason play. The Jackrabbits beat Indiana 60-53 on Thursday.

Down 46-42 midway through the second half, the Wyoming went on a 12-0 run, all on 3-pointers — the first from Megan McGuffey, the last three by Podziemska, who missed her first five 3-point tries.

Oregon (17-14) went on a 6-0 run of its own, with Taylor Lilley's 3-pointer bringing the Ducks within 54-52 with 3:45 left.

But Dominique Sisk scored inside for the Cowgirls, and Podziemska hit another 3-pointer — this one from deep on the right wing with the shot clock winding down — to make it 59-52 with 2:19 left.

Lilley hit another 3-pointer with 29.9 seconds left to pull Oregon within 61-57, and Tamika Nurse's driving layup brought the Ducks within 62-59 with 20.3 seconds left.

Then the Cowgirls bobbled an inbound pass, giving Oregon the ball underneath its basket with 18.5 seconds left.

Lilley's third 3-pointer tied the game at 62 with 15.4 seconds left.

But Zavecz broke free for a wide-open fast-break layup with 6.6 seconds left to put Wyoming up 64-62.

Eleanor Haring's turnaround jumper at the buzzer was wide left, giving Wyoming the win in front of a school-record crowd for women's basketball of 7,362.

With the win, the Cowgirls tied the 1989-90 team for the second-most wins in school history. The only team that did better finished 25-7 in 1979.

Podziemska finished with 14 points, and Sisk scored 12.

Oregon came back from an 18-9 first-half deficit to lead 30-29 at halftime. But the Ducks couldn't put together a run and never led by more than four points.

Kaela Chapdelaine scored 12 points for Oregon, all on 3-pointers, and Lilley finished with 11.

QUACK TRACKS:

For the second season in a row, Wyoming has eliminated the lone WNIT representative from the Pac-10 (Oregon State in 2006) ... Thursday’s contest was only the second road game Oregon has had in four WNIT appearances totaling 13 games The Ducks are now 11-2 all-time in the WNIT ... Altitude at courtside is 7,220 feet ... With UO’s loss, Arizona State is the last Pac-10 team still playing in the postseason.

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