The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team pulled off a stunning 76-74 victory over the No. 12 Baylor Bears in a nail-biting matchup at Matthew Knight Arena on Sunday night. The Ducks, led by North Carolina transfer guard Deja Kelly, who scored a game-high 20 points, overcame a late Baylor comeback to secure the upset win against the highly ranked Bears.
Oregon got off to a blistering start, leading by as many as 16 points in the fourth quarter. However, Baylor, powered by Colorado transfer Aaronette Vonleh and her 16 points, mounted a furious rally to tie the game at 74-74 with just over two minutes remaining.
But the Ducks kept their composure, and it was Elisa Mevius, a Siena transfer, who came up clutch. Mevius drove to the hoop and used a screen from Phillipina Kyei to hit the go-ahead layup with 22 seconds left, giving Oregon a 76-74 lead.
Baylor had one final chance to tie, but the Ducks’ defense forced a missed 3-pointer, and Oregon held on for the thrilling victory. “I’m so proud of the way our team battled tonight,” said Oregon head coach Kelly Graves. “We knew Baylor was going to make a run, but our players stayed composed and made the plays we needed down the stretch to get the win.”
In addition to Kelly’s 20 points, the Ducks also received significant contributions from Alexis Whitfield, who scored 16 points, and Nani Falatea, who added 12 points off the bench. The win over the 12th-ranked Bears marks an impressive start to the season for the Ducks, who improved to 3-0 after opening with victories over Nevada and North Texas.
“This was a huge win for our program,” said Kelly. “Baylor is one of the top teams in the country, and to come away with a victory against them is a tremendous accomplishment. But we know we have a long season ahead, and we’ll need to keep working hard to build on this momentum.”
The Ducks will look to continue their strong start on the road next week as they head to Hawaii to take on Georgia Tech in the Maui Classic on Thanksgiving weekend. As for the Bears, the loss drops them to 1-1 this young season. Baylor head coach Nicki Collen was disappointed with her team’s performance, particularly in the first half.
“We didn’t play our best basketball tonight, and that’s on me as the head coach,” Collen said. “We’ll go back, watch the film, and make the necessary adjustments to ensure we’re ready for our next game.” Baylor will look to bounce back on Wednesday when they host North Texas.
Overall, the Oregon-Baylor clash was a thrilling early-season showdown that showcased the depth and talent of both programs. The Ducks, with their infusion of new faces, proved they can compete with the nation’s elite, while the Bears will look to regroup and reassert themselves as one of the top teams in the country.
Fans can catch all the action from Oregon’s upcoming games on Fubo, which offers a free trial for new subscribers. ESPN will broadcast nationally the Ducks’ Maui Classic matchup against Georgia Tech on November 25th.