University University of Oregon Nickname Ducks Colors Green and Gold Head coach Kelly Graves Conference Pacific-12 Conference | Location Eugene, OR Student section Oregon Pit Crew Home Away Arena Matthew Knight Arena | |
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The oregon ducks women s basketball team reacts to making the ncaa tournament
The Oregon Ducks women’s basketball team is the official women’s basketball team of the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Basketball is one of eleven varsity women’s sports at the University of Oregon. The team is a member of the Pac-12 Conference and a Division I team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Matthew Knight Arena is the home venue for both women’s and men’s basketball and women’s volleyball. Nike provides the official team uniforms for University of Oregon sports teams.
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History
Women’s basketball (as a zoned, single-dribble game) at the University of Oregon started as a club in 1899, brought to Oregon by physical education instructor Alice Chapman, wife of University President Charles Chapman. The sport became an "interest group" in 1965. Intercollegiate games also began in 1965, and in 1966, the women’s team entered the Northwest College Women’s Sports Association (which would eventually become the AIAW Region 9 conference). The program became official in 1973, the year following the passage of Title IX, which required federally supported universities to offer equal opportunities in men’s and women’s athletics. They have an all-time record (as of the end of the 2015–16 season) of 706–507. They previously played in the Northwest Basketball League from 1977–1982 (47–5 all-time record) and the NorPac Conference from 1982–1986 (34–12 all-time record) before joining the Pacific-10 Conference in 1986, where they have a current all-time record on 260–280. They won the Women's National Invitation Tournament in 2002 54-52 over Houston.
Coaching Staff
Jane Spearing coached the first official season for the Ducks in 1973-74. The team finished that season with a 3-8 losing record. The 1974-75 and 1975-76 seasons were coached by Nancy Mikleton and the team posted 2-10 and 5-15 records, respectively. Head coach Elwin Heiny took over the program in 1976 and remained coach until 1993. Heiny was the first full-time coach hired for women’s basketball. In his first season as head coach, Heiny coached the team to its first winning record (11-6). Jody Runge took over as head coach in 1993 and coached until 2001. She coached the Ducks to NCAA tournament appearances during each of her eight seasons as coach. Runge also spoke out for equality in women’s athletics. From 2001-2009, former Oregon Ducks All-American Bev Smith coached the team, posting a 83-69 overall record. Paul Westhead coached the Ducks from the 2009-10 season through the 2013-14 season. The current head coach is Kelly Graves, assisted by Associate Head Coach Mark Campbell, and Assistant Coaches Jodie Berry and Nicole Powell.
Facilities
The early women's basketball clubs played in Gerlinger Hall on the University of Oregon campus, built in 1927 to serve as the women’s gymnasium. Games eventually moved to McArthur Court (also called Mac Court and "The Pit") — one of the most renowned college athletic facilities of all time. Admission was first charged for women’s games at Mac Court in 1978. The Ducks relocated when Matthew Knight Arena opened in 2011. In their first game in Matthew Knight, the women’s team defeated Oregon State University in the "Civil War," 81-72.