Oregon women’s basketball delivered a masterclass in resilience, erasing a 16-point second-half deficit to defeat Washington State 64-57 at Matthew Knight Arena on Nov. 6. The Ducks (2-0) found themselves in familiar territory, trailing 41-25 with under nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, senior guard Katie Fiso refused to let the momentum shift permanently, igniting a relentless offensive surge that dismantled the Cougars’ lead and secured the nonconference win.
How the Ducks’ senior guard turned a 16-point deficit into a decisive nonconference victory
Fiso was the engine behind the turnaround, finishing with a team-high 19 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Her impact was most pronounced in the second half, where she scored 11 of her total points to flip the script on the game. “I just encouraged myself and my team that the game’s not over,” Fiso said post-game. “We still have a lot of time.” Her leadership stabilized the Oregon offense, which had struggled to find its rhythm early in the contest but regained its composure when it mattered most.
The victory marks a significant step in Oregon’s effort to refine its response to adversity, a theme that defined much of the previous season. Fiso acknowledged the historical context, noting, “It’s not a position that we’ve never been in before… A lot of last year’s games came down to that.” By converting a 16-point hole into a seven-point margin of victory, the Ducks demonstrated the improved mental toughness and execution necessary to compete at the highest level this season.
Source: Yahoo Sports
