Ionescu sets record as Ducks roll
EUGENE, Ore. — Sabrina Ionescu didn’t notice the Oregon crowd’s roar when she finally went to the bench with a careerhigh 37 points against Stanford.
The Ducks’ fans were aware she’d set the school’s career scoring record. For Ionescu, a MiramonteOrinda alum, all that mattered was that the sixthranked Ducks were well on the way to handing No. 3 Stanford its first conference loss with an 8755 victory Thursday night.
“I didn’t know they said something at the game; did they?” Ionescu asked. “I didn’t hear it.”
Ionescu went into the game needing 24 points to match Oregon career leader Alison Lang, who had 2,252 between 198084. When the record was announced on the video scoreboard, the crowd gave the senior guard a standing ovation.
Her previous career high was 36 points, set against Stanford on March 4, 2018. She also had 11 rebounds and seven assists for her ninth doubledouble of the season for the Ducks (142, 41 Pac12). Satou Sabally added 18 points and 11 rebounds.
Kiana Williams had 15 points for Stanford (152, 41), which trailed by as many as 32 points. Lexie Hull added 10.
“They had Sabrina and we didn’t,” Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer said. “She was phenomenal. She is that good and the people around her are very good also. We have our work cut out for us to be ready for them the next time.”
Ionescu gave a little wave when she took her seat with 2:21 left, and said afterward it was directed at Stanford.
Oregon coach Kelly Graves elaborated about what the win meant: “Stanford’s the standard by which we’re all judged. They always have been. So any time you can beat them, it’s a feather in your cap, there’s no question about it.”
The Ducks’ win likely means another shakeup in the rankings. Oregon had climbed to No. 2 but fell last week to Arizona State 7266. The Sun Devils went on to also defeat No. 3 Oregon State last weekend, becoming the first unranked Division I team to knock off a pair of topthree opponents in backtoback games.
UCLA, the only undefeated team in the country, moved up to No. 7. The Bruins face USC on Friday. With Arizona and Arizona State, the Pac12 has six teams ranked in the Top25.
Stanford opened the second half with a 70 run to take a 3736 lead. But the Ducks reeled off seven straight points to reclaim it. After Ionescu’s layup put Oregon up 5042 in the third quarter, she let out a loud yell and jumpbumped a teammate. She finished with 14 points in the third quarter alone.
The Ducks stretched the margin to 6046 on Taylor Chavez’s layup to put the sellout crowd on its feet. A short time later, they were on their feet again when Ionescu made a 20foot jumper to move into first on Oregon’s career list.