Basketball
Add news
News

Pac-12 basketball: Heated scene in Eugene as Oregon’s Kelly Graves, Arizona’s Adia Barnes get salty on the sideline

0 5
Pac-12 basketball: Heated scene in Eugene as Oregon’s Kelly Graves, Arizona’s Adia Barnes get salty on the sideline

It’s only mid-January, but Pac-12 women’s basketball already is close to overheating.

No one is backing down against defending national champion Stanford, much less anyone else.

The No. 2-ranked Cardinal fought off previously undefeated Colorado 60-52 on Friday and Utah 83-73 on Sunday. Stanford (13-3/4-0) is the only unbeaten team in conference play, excluding Arizona State, yet to get started due to COVID protocol.

No. 7 Arizona held off Oregon State on Thursday, only to give up a 17-point lead late in the third quarter in a 68-66 overtime loss at Oregon on Saturday.

Wildcats coach Adia Barnes apologized on social media later Saturday “for being out of character and letting my emotions get the best of me.”

Barnes made an inappropriate finger gesture at Oregon coach Kelly Graves, saying online that she apologized “because despite the disrespect and being cussed at numerous times I should have not responded back.”

She also responded to an online comment about her setting a bad example by posting, “If you would choose to sit and get cussed at by a man that’s on you and what you are willing to tolerate. But I’m not that woman!”

Arizona guard Shaina Pellington defended Barnes in a Twitter post:

“My coach had EVERY reason to defend herself last night. She was cussed at, and called out of her name in the most VULGAR ways the ENTIRE game by Kelly. We could hear it from the floor while PLAYING, in the most HOSTILE environment. He needs to be held accountable. Simple.”

As of Sunday night, the Pac-12 had not taken any disciplinary action against Barnes or Graves, per a response to the Hotline.

Barnes used her middle finger and an expletive in a postgame huddle with her team following a 2021 Final Four win over Connecticut that was shown on TV. She did not apologize then for what she thought was a private message to her players about those who doubted them.

Oregon visits Arizona on Feb. 4 in what will be a fascinating rematch.

More immediately, the Ducks host No. 10 Connecticut (9-3) on Monday in their fourth game this season against a different 2021 Final Four participant. They lost to South Carolina (80-63) and Stanford (80-68) before beating Arizona.

UConn comes to Eugene on a three-game win streak but currently is without star sophomore Paige Bueckers and freshman Azzi Fudd due to injury.

Stanford digs deep for sweep

So, after a deep breath, let’s jump back to Stanford, which barely managed to stay above the pack.

Against Colorado, the alternate universe Cardinal played in the first quarter, committing 13 turnovers. The Buffs had 10 steals, an 11-2 edge in points-off-turnovers and led 15-8.

Stanford finished with 22 turnovers (seven by Haley Jones) yet outscored CU in each of the final three quarters, using a late 8-1 run to avert a second straight loss in Boulder.

“I won’t tell you the game was pretty,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “But it was a gritty, gritty win.”

It took a higher-octane determination to put away Utah, which was making its Pac-12 debut after five postponements.

The Utes dominated much of the second quarter, leading by as many as 13, before Stanford cut its halftime deficit to seven.

The Cardinal worked inside-out in the second half, making the most of 6-foot-4 Cameron Brink, who finished with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Utah still led 68-64 with 6:40 left before Stanford close with a 12-1 surge.

“Stanford is really good, and what they did in the fourth quarter is what they’ve done all season in close games,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said.

Utah’s Andrea Torres suffered an injury in the third quarter and did not return. Freshman Jenna Johnson led the Utes with 15 points. Long-time starter Brynna Maxwell came off the bench after starting the first 63 games of her career.

Sedona Prince keys Oregon comeback

Oregon forward Sedona Prince scored 10 of her 16 points in the fourth quarter against Arizona as the Ducks rallied from six down with 2:22 remaining to force overtime.

In the extra period, Arizona’s Bendu Yeaney hit a game-tying 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining.

Oregon’s Sydney Parrish missed from behind the line, but Endyia Rogers had just enough time to convert a 3-foot, game-winning follow.

Te-Hina Paopao scored a career-high 24 points for the Ducks while Nyara Sabally had 20 points and 13 reboubnds.

“I think we showed some real character,” Graves said. “We have it in us and when we were tested, they came through.”

UCLA beat Washington (63-48) and Washington State (71-58). IImar’I Thomas and Charisma Osborne each had a 25-point game for the Bruins.

ASU yet to start Pac-12 play

Cal and ASU did not play as scheduled due to COVID protocol issues, leaving the Sun Devils idle since Dec. 30.

They are the only Pac-12 team yet to play a conference game. Washington State already has played five; most others have played three or four.

“I never thought we’d be back where we were in a million years,” said ASU coach Charli Turner Thorne, whose teams lost seven Pac-12 games to COVID in the 2020-21 season and is already down six this time.

ASU played a non-conference game against Lipscomb after Christmas and scrimmaged when games were postponed due to protocol issues for UCLA and USC.

“The next morning (after the scrimmage), the dominoes fell for us,” Turner Thorne said. “The Pac-12 office is going to do the best they can do to facilitate some makeup games, but it’s going to be really challenging.

“We’re an NCAA team. This team can be really good. We’ve got to get our consistency going.

“Cramming games in is not a winning strategy (for the Pac-12). Our teams just need to show their talent and how good they can be.”

Turner Thorne expects all of her players to be available against Colorado on Friday.

Weekly lowdown

— Player of the Week nominees: Cameron Brink (Stanford), Taya Corosdale (Oregon State), Jordyn Jenkins (USC), Jenna Johnson (Utah), Charlisse Leger-Walker (Washington State), Quay Miller (Colorado), Nancy Mulkey (Washington), Charisma Osborne (Washington), Te-Hina Paopao (Oregon), Shaina Pellington (Arizona).

— Freshman of the Week nominees: Jenna Johnson (Utah), Rayah Marshall (USC), Kindyll Wetta (Colorado), Alexis Whitfield (Washington).

Ahead this week: Oregon is at home Monday against No. 10 Connecticut in a nationally televised non-conference game. ASU finally joins the Pac-12 fray Friday against Colorado, which also plays a makeup game at Oregon State on Monday and at Arizona on Sunday. The USC vs. UCLA rivalry games are Thursday and Sunday.


Support the Hotline: Receive three months of unlimited access for just 99 cents. Yep, that’s 99 cents for 90 days, with the option to cancel anytime. Details are here, and thanks for your support.


*** Send suggestions, comments and tips (confidentiality guaranteed) to pac12hotline@bayareanewsgroup.com or call 408-920-5716

*** Follow Metcalfe on Twitter: @jeffmetcalfe

*** Pac-12 Hotline is not endorsed or sponsored by the Pac-12 Conference, and the views expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the views of the Conference.

Загрузка...

Comments

Комментарии для сайта Cackle
Загрузка...

More news:

Read on Sportsweek.org:

Other sports

Sponsored