EUGENE — In the early moments of the third quarter of Wednesday night's thrilling 70 - 68 victory over Auburn, Oregon Ducks center Phillipina Kyei showcased her prowess by drawing a foul while driving to the basket. This intense contest witnessed an astonishing 41 fouls committed by both teams, yet Kyei, despite not scoring a basket, let out a powerful roar towards the Oregon crowd. The formerly reserved Kyei exchanged high - fives with her Ducks teammates, including the diminutive point guard Deja Kelly, whose head barely reaches Kyei's midsection at 6 - foot - 8.

Emotion and Team Spirit

"When I display that level of emotion, it indicates my desire to get my teammates fired up," Kyei expressed. "And they are well aware of the significance at that moment." It was truly "Philly Time" for the Ducks as they faced a Tigers frontcourt with significant size and athleticism. Kyei emerged as a star, scoring a team - high 14 points along with 11 rebounds in her first start of the season for the highly ranked No. 23 Oregon (6 - 0).

Overcoming Injury

Kyei had endured a leg injury during the preseason and had been gradually regaining her game shape throughout Oregon's schedule thus far. On Wednesday night, she played a season - high 22 minutes and was a dominant force down low. "For us to reach our peak performance, Philly has to be a crucial part," stated Oregon coach Kelly Graves. "It was the right time to reintegrate her into the lineup. She delivered exceptionally well tonight. Our team is a different entity when she is on the court."

Pick and Roll Magic

Kyei was particularly effective in pick and roll plays with Kelly and Peyton Scott, two highly talented scoring guards who possess the ability to score on their own regularly. The devastating screens set by Kyei opened up the game, allowing Scott to hit midrange jumpers and Kelly to find Kyei streaking towards the basket. Kyei's finishes were mostly smooth and in stride as she went 5 - 9 from the field on that night.

Rebounding and Interior Defense

Oregon outrebounded the feisty Auburn team by a significant margin, 42 - 32, and scored 40 points in the paint compared to Auburn's 28. While Taliah Scott shined on the scoreboard with 28 points, including seven three - pointers, Auburn's front line couldn't match Kyei's dominance, even as she continued to work her way back to 100%. "Her presence under the basket is remarkable. We emphasized the importance of creating a wall. It's not just about blocking shots; it's about her presence altering shots," Peyton Scott remarked. "In practice, when I see her, I get a bit intimidated at times. (Laughs) Her presence is crucial for us. We know that if we don't fulfill our responsibilities, she will be there to assist us."

Unique Basketball Journey

Kyei has an easygoing personality and a one - of - a - kind basketball journey, hailing from Ghana. It is astonishing to think that this towering center with a seven - foot wingspan only started playing basketball when she was on the verge of high school. However, her rapid development as both a player and an emotional leader for the Ducks is clearly evident. And this season, once she is fully healthy, she has the potential to reach new heights."When I don't roll after a pick, they always give me a hard time because when I do roll, it creates opportunities for them to get to the basket. I take my role very seriously," Kyei stated matter - of - factly. But when asked if she preferred to pop after the pick and attempt a midrange jumper, she laughed and replied, "I'm content with rolling."