Oregon rally comes up short as Ducks lose to Washington State in overtime

Te-Hina Paopao’s last ditch effort to lift Oregon to victory hit nothing but rim, bringing to an end what would’ve been a spectacular comeback for the Ducks.

Instead, it was Washington State celebrating at mid-court as the Cougars came into Matthew Knight Arena and upset No. 21 Oregon, 85-84, in overtime in a Pac-12 women’s basketball game Sunday afternoon.

It was a wild ending for the Ducks (13-5, 4-3 Pac-12), who rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation, had a controversial call in the final seconds take away a go-ahead 3-pointer, forced OT with two score-tying free throws with less than a second to play, and then had a chance for the win on Paopao’s jumper from the free-throw line just before time expired in overtime.

“We certainly have a disappointed locker room,” coach Kelly Graves said. “I told them I’m really proud of the fight that we had, and the heart that we played with, certainly down the stretch in regulation, and as poorly as we played at times we had a chance to win the game and that’s all you can ask for.”

Endyia Rogers had 33 points on 12-of-21 shooting, including 6-for-8 from 3-point range, and Chance Gray scored a career-high 22 with five 3-pointers as Oregon lost for the second time in three games and also for the second time at home this season to a Pac-12 opponent.

“It was one of those nights we weren’t right at our best,” Graves said. “I thought, just defensively, we let them get too much of what they wanted to do.”

Five players scored in double-figures for Washington State (13-4, 3-3), which outscored the Ducks 46-24 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 50-36.

Oregon was hurt in the paint defensively by the absence of 6-8 center Phillipina Kyei. The Pac-12’s leading rebounder played seven minutes in the third quarter before leaving the game and going to the locker room. She didn’t return to the bench and Graves said she is in concussion protocol.

Washington State’s success inside fueled the Cougars in the second half as they made 14 straight field goals, and 17-of-18, during one stretch, with the majority of those scores coming on uncontested layups.

It was during that scoring run that Washington State turned a 43-33 third-quarter deficit into a 71-57 lead with 4:02 to play in the game.

But the Ducks finally found some life on offense and outscored the Cougars 19-5 to end regulation.

Eight of those points came in the final eight seconds. Three-pointers by Gray with 7.8 to play made 74-71 and a 3-pointer by Rogers less-than 4 seconds to play made the score 76-74.

Rogers then had a steal at mid-court on an inbounds play and quickly fired the ball to Ahlise Hurst, who drained a 3-pointer to put the Ducks up 77-76 with 1.6 seconds to play.

But a referee was already blowing the play dead before Hurst’s shot left her hand because the play clock had stopped when Rogers got the steal, enraging the announced crowd of 6,900.

“I can’t say anything about that,” Graves said. “They think the clock stopped maybe inadvertently and that referee felt like he needed to rectify it. I don’t know.”

When time was reset, the Ducks had 0.6 seconds remaining for a play, which went to Grace VanSlooten in the paint on the inbound’s throw and the freshman forward was fouled as she went up for her shot.

VanSlooten, who was 2-for-10 from the field Sunday, knocked down both fouls shots without hesitancy to tie the score 76-76.

“I’m really proud of her, actually,” Graves said. “That’s not an easy situation for a freshman to be in, especially on night where she struggled a little bit. … I actually thought when she made those that we were gonna win this game now.”

Instead, Oregon went 2-for-5 from the field in overtime, including Paopao’s final shot.

The Ducks had possession with 12.8 seconds left coming out of a time out but the Cougars buckled down on Rogers who was forced to find an outlet.

“I actually thought we got a good look at it,” Graves said. “Maybe a little rushed in traffic, but for the most part we executed it well. We wanted the ball in (Rogers’) hands. She had such a great game and I figured she would make the right play.”

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com.

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This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon Ducks women fall to Washington State Cougars in Pac-12 game