Just when it looked like UCLA’s precarious postseason chances were slipping through its fingers, Morris launched a prayer. Just when it seemed like the Oregon Ducks had stolen another game from the Bruins, a final hope caromed off the backboard. Just when it seemed like UCLA was destined to fall on the road again, the shot of the season fell astoundingly through the net.
Sophomore guard Darxia Morris banked in a 40-foot shot at the buzzer to cap a roller-coaster 70-69 victory over the resilient Oregon Ducks Thursday night at MacArthur court.
“Well, we actually drew up something a little different,” coach Nikki Caldwell said. “But that was a huge shot at the end.”
With UCLA leading 67-65, Oregon sophomore center Nicole Canepa hit a jumpshot to tie the game. Junior guard Taylor Lilley then stole the ensuing outlet pass, converting a layup at the other end to put the Ducks up by 2 and UCLA’s postseason hopes squarely on the edge.
But Morris, who has made some huge plays for her team in recent games, had one more big play left in her.
“It was really exciting,” Morris said. “I was thinking that I might have to shoot, and I was saying “˜please go in, please go in.'”
With pressure mounting and the home crowd roaring every time Oregon cut into the lead, Caldwell turned to two of her team’s leaders, sophomore point guards Morris and Doreena Campbell to seal the deal on one of the most important wins of the season.
“After you play a team like Cal, you are always worried about having a letdown, but not tonight,” Caldwell said of her team. “They didn’t quit. They did a great job of making the big plays down the stretch.”
Campbell led the Bruins with 17 points, driving into the lane for several buckets in the game’s closing minutes.
“After the Cal game, coach made sure we were focused, because this game was just as important,” Campbell said. “We had some defensive lapses, but we made enough plays to win.”
Morris, fresh off her spectacular performance against the Bay Area schools a weekend ago, pitched in 13 points, including the buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Bruins the win.
“It’s all been about confidence,” Morris said of her recent play.
Caldwell was pleased with the win, no matter how it was achieved in the closing seconds.
“It’s amazing with basketball and those type of shots,” Caldwell said. “We work on that in practice. Not that I wished that we’d ever have to use it, but it actually came in handy tonight.”
UCLA will face Oregon State in its final conference game on Saturday in Corvallis and will be looking to lock up the Pac-10’s fourth seed with a victory. Saturday’s game also provides UCLA with another opportunity to grab a key win that would boost its postseason profile and provide momentum entering the conference tournament next week.
“Oregon State is a good team, and this is not only a big game for our conference seeding, but also for the NCAA Tournament,” Campbell said. “We have to refocus and be ready to go.”