By R.L. Bynum
After a tough shooting night in her Oregon debut, Deja Kelly had everything going on Wednesday, while Dawson Garcia had a monster game in Minnesota’s opener.
Kelly, who was 3 of 10 with 10 points in Monday’s 93–63 Ducks home win over California Baptist, was efficient in 29 minutes of Oregon’s 76–58 home victory Wednesday over Nevada.
She had her share of good games against the Wolfpack (N.C. State) and did that this time against the Wolf Pack: a game-high 21 points on 9 of 13 from the floor, 3 of 6 from 3-point range with four rebounds, three assists and was +24.
Kelly said the key was defense.
“Just really pushing us in transition,” Kelly said. “I think us getting stops really picked up the intensity defensively, so that allowed us to get out and push. So being able to get to my spots and just knocking it down.”
It was the 33rd game with at least 20 points in Kelly’s 123-game career and the 17th game with at least three 3-pointers.
The Ducks (2–0) trailed 14–12 after one quarter but outscored Nevada 28–9 in the second quarter, led by Kelly’s eight points, 4 of 5 shooting and two assists.
“He got in our butt, for sure,” Kelly said of Coach Kelly Graves after the first quarter. “He told us we had to pick up our intensity. We were kind of just really steady, and we just needed more enthusiasm and more energy, especially on the defensive end. And I think that really showed in the second quarter. That’s when we were really able to thrive, get stops, really pushed in transition as a whole. So us being able to do that and really pick up on that, and I think helped the game change the game.
Oregon’s lead was 18 by the end of the third quarter, when Kelly scored 10 points on 4 of 5 shooting, including 2 of 3 from 3-point range.
“We want her to be more aggressive and more assertive,” Graves said. “She has showed what she can do when she’s the focal point. I thought she played really, really well with a good floor game.”
Oregon’s first test of the season is at 10 p.m. ET Sunday when it plays host to No. 12 Baylor. The Bears open their season Thursday against Incarnate Word.
Garcia was extremely efficient in Minnesota’s 80–47 home win Wednesday over Oral Roberts. In 24 minutes, he scored 30 points on 11 of 14 shooting and a career-high four 3-pointers on five attempts, with eight rebounds, two assists and a steal.
It was the fourth game in Garcia’s 101-game career with at least 30 points, fifth with at least 11 field goals. His previous high on 3-pointers was three, which he has scored seven times.
On Thursday, Rutgers (1–0) and Destiny Adams host Cornell (7 p.m.), Kentucky (1–0) and Teonni Key is at home against Northern Kentucky, Arizona (1–0) and Paulina Paris host Tarleton State (8 p.m, ESPN+), Anya Poole and Clemson (1–0) is at home against N.C. Central (7 p.m., ESPN3), Will Shaver and UAB (1–0) at Southern Miss (7:30, ESPN+).
Elliot Cadeau, Michigan guard
6–1, 180 pounds | Junior | UNC 2023–25 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting point guard ahead of sophomore L.J. Cason
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 10.1 points, 44.7 FG%, 42.0 3P%, 69.0 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.6 turnovers
Team record: 20–1, 10–1 Big Ten; Rank: No. 3
Tuesday: 75–72 win vs. No. 5 Nebraska — Started; 32:55, 7 points, 2–8 FG, 2–6 3FG, 1–2 FT, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 fouls, 8 turnovers, 2 steals, +9
Friday: 83–71 win at No. 7 Michigan State — Started; 30:19, 17 points, 5–8 FG, 3–5 3 FG, 4–5 FT, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 turnovers, +4
Next game — 6:30 Thursday vs. Penn State, FS1
Trayanna Crisp, Mississippi State guard
5–8 | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 9.5 points, 40.5 FG%, 39.6 3P%, 87.2 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Team record: 16–7, 3–6 SEC
Thursday: 77–62 win at No. 15 Tennessee — Started; 32 minutes, 15 points, 4–9 FG, 3–7 3FG, 4–4 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 assist, 4 fouls, 2 turnovers, 3 steals, +18
Sunday: 88–80 loss vs. Missouri — Started; 32 minutes, 35 minutes, 18 points, 6–15 FG, 6–13 3FG, 1 rebound, 3 fouls, 4 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal
Next game — 6:30 Thursday at No. 2 South Carolina, SEC Network
RyLee Grays, Tulsa forward
6–4 | Junior | UNC 2023–24 (1 season)
Roster situation — One of four forwards competing for time
Season statistics — 21 games, 2.1 points, 45.5 FG%, 2–5 3FG, 75.9 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 8 blocks, 6 steals
Team record: 15–6, 7–2 American
Tuesday: 77–48 win vs. Florida Atlantic — 16 minutes, 6 points, 1–2 FG, 0–1 3FG, 4–4 FT, 4 rebounds, 1 foul, 2 assists, 1 block
Saturday: 74–69 2 OT win vs. Memphis — 8 minutes, 0–1 FG
Next game — 7 p.m. Tuesday at Wichita State, ESPN+
Ian Jackson, St. John’s guard
6–5, 195 pounds | Sophomore | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter, sharing time in a point-guard-by-committee mix
Season statistics — 21 games, 14 starts, 11.1 points, 44.4 FG%, 37.2 3P%, 90.7 FT%, 2.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists
Team record: 16–5, 9–1 Big East; Rank: No. 25
Wednesday: 92–70 win vs. Butler — Started; 25 minutes, team-high 18 points, 5–11 FG, 3–6 3FG, 5–5 FT, 5 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, +19
Next game — 8 p.m. Tuesday at DePaul, Peacock
Puff Johnson, Ohio State
6–8, 190 pounds | Graduate | UNC 2020–23 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Reserve
Team record: 14–7, 6–5 Big Ten
Season statistics — 3 games, 2.3 points, 40.0 FG%, 1–2 3FG, 2–3 FT, 1.7 rebounds
Monday: 84–78 win vs. Penn State — 13 minutes, 2 points, 1–3 FG, 0–1 FT, 3 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Saturday: 92–82 loss at Wisconsin — 12 minutes, 5 points, 1–2 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2–2 FT, 2 rebounds, 2 fouls, 1 turnover
Next game — 8:30 Thursday at Maryland, FS1
Teonni Key, Kentucky forward
6–4 | RS senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 15 games, 15 starts, 11.3 points, 53.6 FG%, 1–12 3FG, 66.7 FT%, 6.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 18–5, 5–4 SEC; Rank: No. 16
Sunday: 93–73 win at Arkansas — Started; 32:08, 15 points, 5–12 FG, 5–10 FT, 10 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, 1 turnover, 1 steal, 1 block, +14
Next game — 7 p.m. Thursday vs. No. 5 Vanderbilt
Ven-Allen Lubin, N.C. State forward
6–9, 250 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting center
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 13.5 points, 68.2 FG%, 33.3 3P%, 73.4 FT%, 7.0 rebounds
Team record: 16–6, 7–2 ACC
Tuesday: 88–68 win vs. Syracuse — Started; 26:14, 18 points, 8–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 9 rebounds, 2 fouls, 2 assists, +9
Saturday: 96–78 win at Wake Forest — Started; 28:10, 12 points, 5–8 FG, 2–2 FT, 8 rebounds, 1 foul, 3 assists, +12
Next game — 9 p.m. Tuesday at SMU, ESPN2
Plays UNC —7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, ESPN or ESPN2
Tyler Nickel, Vanderbilt wing
6–7, 220 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starting forward
Season statistics — 22 games, 22 starts, 16.6 points, 50.7 FG%, 45.0 3P%, 83.9 FT%, 3.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started, 28:20, 19 points, 7–14 FG, 2–6 3FG, 3–3 FT, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 turnover, 2 steals, 1 block, +14
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 28:15, 5 points, 2–7 FG, 1–5 3FG, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, +2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Paulina Paris, SMU guard
5–9 | Senior | UNC 2022–24 (2 seasons)
Roster situation — Starting guard
Season statistics — 19 games, 11 starts, 9.6 points, 39.7 FG%, 23.6 3P%, 69.7 FT%, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists
Team record: 8–14, 1–9 ACC
Thursday: 83–54 loss at Clemson — Didn’t start; 21 minutes, 7 points, 3–10 FG, 1–3 3FG, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 foul, 1 turnover, 1 steal, -19
Next game — 7:30 Thursday vs. Wake Forest, ACCN Extra
Plays UNC — 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Carmichael Arena, ACCN
Will Shaver, Samford center
6–10, 265 pounds | RS junior | UNC 2022–23 (1 season)
Roster situation — Reserve minutes
Season statistics — 21 games, 3.0 points, 51.1 FG%, 40.0 3P%, 58.8 FT%, 2.2 rebounds, 15 assists, 9 blocks, 4 steals
Team record: 11–12, 4–6 Southern Conference
Thursday: 78–73 loss at Furman — 12 minutes, 4 points, 2–2 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 foul, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal
Sunday: 88–74 win at Western Carolina — 8 minutes, 4 points, 1–2 FG, 2–2 FT, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls, 1 assist, 2 turnovers
Next game — 8 p.m. Thursday vs. The Citadel, ESPN+
Cade Tyson, Minnesota wing
6–7, 180 pounds | Senior | UNC 2024–25 (1 season)
Roster situation — Starter
Season statistics — 21 games, 21 starts, 19.9 points, 50.0 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 80.1 FT%, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists
Team record: 10–12, 3–8 Big Ten
Wednesday: 67–63 loss at Wisconsin — Missed game with an ankle injury suffered in the Jan. 24 loss to Nebraska
Sunday: 77–75 loss at Penn State — 28 minutes, 17 points, 3–8 FG, 0–4 3FG, 11–12 FT, 5 rebounds, 4 fouls, 2 assists, 2 turnovers
Next game — 7 p.m. Wednesday vs. No. 7 Michigan State, Big Ten Network
Jalen Washington, Vanderbilt center
6–9, 240 pounds | Senior | UNC 2022–25 (3 seasons)
Roster situation — Backup center
Season statistics — 22 games, 3 starts, 8.9 points, 58.0 FG%, 25.0 3P%, 72.3 FT%, 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks
Team record: 19–3, 6–3 SEC: Rank: No. 18
Tuesday: 80–55 win vs. Kentucky — Started; 16:45, 0 points, 0–5 FG, 0–1 3FG, 9 rebounds, 5 fouls, 1 turnover, 1 block, +11
Saturday: 71–68 win vs. Ole Miss — Started, 16:21, 4 points, 1–1 FG, 2–3 FT, 2 rebounds, 4 fouls, -2
Next game — 3:30 Saturday vs. Oklahoma, SEC Network
Photo via @OregonWBB
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