Oregon Women’s Basketball Secures First Big Ten Tournament Win, Defeats Purdue 82-64

INDIANAPOLIS — The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team achieved a historic milestone Wednesday night, securing their first-ever victory in the Big Ten Tournament with an 82-64 win over the Purdue Boilermakers. The 11th-seeded Ducks (21-11) advance to face sixth-seeded Maryland on Thursday evening.

Dominant First Half Sets the Tone

Oregon established control early, shooting 47.1% from the field in the first half while holding Purdue to a mere 24.2% shooting performance. This resulted in a commanding 47-24 lead at halftime.

Purdue’s Second-Half Push Not Enough

Despite a significant improvement in the third quarter, where Purdue shot 73% from the field and scored 25 points, Oregon maintained a comfortable lead. The Ducks, however, struggled from the field in the third, shooting just 25%. The Boilermakers managed to cut the deficit to 12 points late in the fourth quarter, but Oregon responded with an 8-3 run to secure the victory.

Key Performances Lead the Way

Katie Fiso led the Ducks with 20 points and four assists, while Ehis Etute delivered a strong performance with 16 points and 12 rebounds, marking her eighth double-double of the season. Mia Jacobs contributed 14 points and nine rebounds in her return to the lineup after missing games with a knee injury. Lana McCarthy led Purdue with 14 points, while Tara Daye and Hila Karsh each added 11.

Coaching Perspective

UO coach Kelly Graves acknowledged the team’s strong first half but emphasized the need for improvement. “We played a great first half, obviously,” Graves said. “But you grasp, we’re still a relatively young team and we’ve got to learn how to close teams out when we got them down.” He as well highlighted the challenges of the tournament schedule, stating, “If we hope to win this thing, it’s a five-game gauntlet, for crying out loud. So any minutes you can give your kids on the bench, you accept them.”

Jacobs’ Impact

Fiso emphasized the importance of Jacobs’ return to the lineup, stating, “Obviously we didn’t have her for the first matchup…Having her today, you know, she’s just another threat on the court that the defense has to scout.”

Up Next

The Oregon Ducks will face the Maryland Terrapins on Thursday at approximately 6 p.m. PT, with the game broadcast on the Big Ten Network. The winner will advance to the quarterfinals to play third-seeded Michigan.