A program four years removed from a Final Four appearance hosting a program with its most wins in 18 years was every bit the mismatch it was drawn up to be.
Te-Hina Paopao shot a ridiculous 9 of 11 from the field, including 6 for 7 from three-point range, en route to 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists and Endyia Rogers notched UO’s first triple-double since Sabrina Ionescu to lead six players in double-figures for Oregon in a 96-57 trouncing of North Dakota State in the first round of the WNIT Friday night at Matthew Knight Arena.
“I thought we played great,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves said. “I thought we really set the tone defensively. We were good tonight defensively, forced them into some turnovers, were able to get out in transition especially in that second quarter and it kept flowing.”
Oregon (18-14) advances to host Rice in the second round Monday at 6 p.m.
It was the fifth 20-point game in six games for Paopao and the best three-point shooting performance by an Oregon player since Erin Boley went 8 of 9 against Cal on Feb. 21, 2020.
“It was a fun game tonight,” Paopao said. “My teammates were finding me so that tells me they trust me to shoot the shot and I did and it went in.”
Rogers, who had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists, notched the first triple-double of her career and first at UO since Ionescu on Feb. 24, 2020 against Stanford. It was the 33rd triple-double in Division I women’s basketball this season.
“Thankful for that opportunity and that moment,” Rogers said. “Shout-out to my teammates for letting me get my last two (assists). I’m very happy that I was able to do that.”
The Ducks opened with the first six points and maintained control during a 19-15 first quarter. Heaven Hamling scored seven of her 16 points in the opening frame for North Dakota State (18-12).
Paopao and Endyia Rogers each scored seven points in the second for Oregon, which used a 16-0 run to blow the game open 41-22 at the half.
Hamling, a fifth-year junior, added six rebounds and three assists and Elle Evans had 15 points and five rebounds for the Bison.
Paopao went 5 for 5 from the field, with four three-pointers, to score 14 points in the third as UO shot 62.5% from the floor during the frame to build a 70-39 lead.
Rogers notched her triple-double via an assist on three from Taya Hanson with 2:02 to go.
“I did want the last two (assists) because I could have shot it a couple of times,” Rogers said. “I was making sure I got my last two so that I could get it.”
Chance Gray (16), Grace VanSlooten (12), Ahlise Hurst (11) and Taya Hanson (10) also reached double-figures for Oregon, which shot 56.7% from the field, including 50% from three — both second-best this season. The Ducks also had 26 assists, their third-most this season.
“We’re just a different team when the ball is moving, when the ball is not sticking, we get everybody involved and we’re making shots,” Graves said. “We obviously shot it really well tonight so that makes a big difference. … I think when we’re at our best, we’re not a big team at all, we kind of have to play this style to I think compete (and) succeed. I wish we played like this all the time.”
