Eugene Center Phillipina Kyei of the Oregon Ducks drew a foul while driving to the hoop early in the third quarter of Wednesday night’s 70-68 victory over Auburn.
In a very rough game, both sides committed an astounding 41 fouls, and even though Kyei didn’t hit the bucket, she still roared at the Oregon audience. Deja Kelly, a small point guard whose head reaches Kyei’s midsection at six feet eight, was among the Ducks teammates who the once-reticent Kyei dapped up.
According to Kyei, whenever I display that kind of emotion, it’s because I want to motivate my teammates. They are also aware of the time.
Against a large and athletic Tigers frontcourt, it was undoubtedly Philly Time for the Ducks. In her first start of the season, Kyei led No. 23 Oregon (6-0) with a team-high 14 points and 11 rebounds.
Kyei has been getting back into game form for the most of Oregon’s schedule thus far after suffering a leg injury during the preseason. She was a force down low and played a season-high 22 minutes on Wednesday night.
“Philly has to be a big part of it for us to be at our best,” Oregon coach Kelly Graves stated. Therefore, it was time to add her back to the lineup. Tonight, she delivered. It was wonderful to witness. When she’s on the court, we play as a different team.
With Kelly and Peyton Scott, two skilled scoring guards who frequently get their own shots, Kyei was especially efficient in pick-and-roll situations. Kyei’s devastating screens allowed Kelly to throw to Kyei as he raced to the rim and allowed Scott to make midrange shots. Kyei went 5–9 from the field that evening, with most of his finishes being fluid and in stride.
Oregon scored 40 points in the paint compared to the Tigers’ 28 and out-rebounding a fierce Auburn squad 42-32. Even though Kyei is still working her way back to 100%, Auburn’s front line was no match for her, even though Taliah Scott lit up the scoreboard with 28 points, including seven threes.
She was beneath the basket. We discussed simply walling up. According to Peyton Scott, her presence down there is changing shots rather than necessarily stopping them. In reality, I admit that I occasionally get a little frightened when I see her. (laughs) That’s significant to us. She is there and knows that she will be down there supporting us if we don’t always perform our duties.
Kyei is a laid-back individual from Ghana with a distinctive basketball background. It’s easy to forget that the seven-foot-winged center didn’t start playing basketball until she was almost a senior in high school. However, it is clear that she has quickly grown as a player and an emotional leader for the Ducks. And once she’s well, she might achieve greater things this season.
“It’s my job,” Kyei stated matter-of-factly, “screen and roll.” When I roll, they open up and have a path to the basket, therefore I know they constantly attack me when I don’t roll. I take a lot of pride in my work.
However, would she prefer to try a midrange jumper after the pick?
Kyei laughed and remarked, “I’m good at rolling.”
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