Busting Brackets
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2017 NCAA Women Basketball Tournament: No. 12 Quinnipiac and No. 10 Oregon pull off upsets

By Daniel Benjamin

Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Karlie Samuelson (44) fouls Oregon Ducks forward Ruthy Hebard (24) on a rebound during the fourth quarter of the women's Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Stanford defeated Oregon State, 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Stanford Cardinal guard Karlie Samuelson (44) fouls Oregon Ducks forward Ruthy Hebard (24) on a rebound during the fourth quarter of the women's Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Stanford defeated Oregon State, 71-56. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of the women’s Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Oregon Ducks guard Sabrina Ionescu (20) shoots against the Stanford Cardinal during the first half of the women’s Pac-12 Conference Tournament at KeyArena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

Oregon Ducks’ freshmen come up big time

The No. 10 Oregon Ducks will make its first ever Sweet 16 appearance after defeating the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils, 74-65, thanks in large part to their three freshmen. The Ducks, the only team to start three freshmen in the country, got 37 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists from their three first-year players. The trio also combined for four steals and four blocks.

6-4 freshman Ruthy Hebard led the way for the Ducks with 20 points and 15 rebounds for her 10th double-double of the season. Pac-12 Freshman of the Year Sabrina Ionescu contributed 13 points to go along with eight boards and six dimes. Fellow freshman Mallory McGrwire only scored four points but also had two blocks and two assists.

However, it wasn’t just the freshman that came up big for Oregon (22-13). Sophomore guard Maite Cazorla sank two three-pointers at the end of the first quarter as the Ducks closed out the period on a 7-2 run to take a 19-14 lead. Cazorla and junior guard Lexi Bando made big-time triples all night, sinking eight of the Ducks nine three-pointers. Cazorla and Bando, who combined for 11 assists, finished with 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Lexie Brown scored 25 points to lead Duke (28-6)), which has been upset in the second round of the tournament at home for the second time since 2014. Leona Odom was the only other Blue Devil in double figures with 11. Duke was without starting point guard Kyra Lambert, who tore her ACL in the first round of the tournament against Hampton.

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