FRISCO, Texas (Interstat) — The Oregon Ducks remained undefeated Tuesday, using a dominant fourth-quarter surge to pull away from the Saint Mary’s Gaels for a 71-53 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game at Dr Pepper Arena.

In a contest defined by defensive pressure and sloppy ball-handling, the Ducks leveraged a stifling full-court press to force 25 Saint Mary’s turnovers, converting them into 23 points. The game was a tight, back-and-forth affair for three quarters before Oregon unleashed a 25-7 fourth-quarter run to seal the win and improve to 7-0 on the season. Saint Mary’s fell to 5-2.

The first half was a defensive struggle, with both teams struggling to find offensive rhythm. Saint Mary’s held a narrow 31-29 lead at halftime, largely on the strength of their interior play. The Gaels maintained a slim advantage through much of the third quarter, but the Ducks began to chip away, taking a 46-45 lead into the final period.

The fourth quarter belonged entirely to Oregon. The Ducks’ defensive intensity reached another level, and their offense finally found consistent success. They opened the period on a 14-2 run, spearheaded by their backcourt, to break the game open. Saint Mary’s, visibly fatigued by the relentless pressure, managed just seven points in the final 10 minutes, going scoreless for long stretches as the Ducks built an insurmountable lead.

Oregon’s Katie Fiso was the orchestrator of the victory. The 5-foot-11 guard from Seattle delivered a masterful performance, scoring 15 points and dishing out 10 assists for a double-double. Her ability to penetrate and create for herself and others was the catalyst for Oregon’s offense, especially during the decisive fourth-quarter run.

She was complemented by Ari Long, a 6-foot guard from Moreno Valley, California, who also scored 15 points. The Ducks’ efficiency at the free-throw line was a critical factor; they shot a near-perfect 19 of 20 from the stripe, while the Gaels connected on just 6 of 11 attempts.

For Saint Mary’s, 6-foot-4 center Edie Clarke from Melbourne, Australia, was a force in the paint, leading her team with 14 points, five rebounds and two blocks in just 24 minutes of action. However, the Gaels’ offense was plagued by the high turnover count and an inability to sustain their scoring against Oregon’s defensive adjustments in the second half. Georgia Grigoropoulou provided a spark off the bench with nine points in only nine minutes.

Statistically, the game was closer than the final score indicated. Both teams shot a similar percentage from the floor, with Oregon making 23 of 47 attempts and Saint Mary’s hitting 21 of 48. They also tied with 30 points each in the paint. The decisive disparities came in assists, where Oregon had a 14-7 advantage, and steals, where the Ducks’ 14 more than doubled the Gaels’ total of seven, underscoring their disruptive defensive presence.

The game was part of a multi-team event in Frisco. Oregon will face Old Dominion on Thursday, while Saint Mary’s is set to play North Texas on Wednesday. The Ducks’ victory extends their strong start to the season, having won each of their first seven games by at least 14 points. The Gaels will look to rebound after seeing their two-game winning streak snapped.