The University of Oregon women's basketball team opened the first round of the National Invitational Tournament with a 27 point win Thursday night in Eugene.
The Stockton, CA-based University of the Pacific had a nice season in the West Coast Conference going 12 and 6. It was the exact opposite of the Ducks in the PAC-12. In fact, Oregon just barely had enough overall wins to even qualify for the NIT.
But Oregon was too tall, too fast, and too scrappy for Pacific to keep up with. After, Oregon Head Coach Paul Westhead said there comes a point in each post season game where one team truly decides they want to win.
Westhead: “You only play the came to find that out. ‘Cause everyone shows up saying they want to play, they want to win. Words are easy. Actions are hard.”
The Ducks decided about 10 minutes in. The team took a 38-22 lead into the half and stayed solidly in control the rest of the game.
Now the women move on the second round of the NIT, playing the winner of Washington and Hawaii. Date and venue for that game will be announced Friday night.
