NCAAW
Charlie Creme, ESPN.com 5y

Women's NCAA tournament 2019: A triple-double for Ionescu, a Sweet 16 for Oregon

Women's College Basketball, Clemson Tigers, Oregon Ducks, Indiana Hoosiers

Sabrina Ionescu recorded the 18th triple-double of her career, and Oregon moved into the Sweet 16 for the third straight year with a 91-68 win over Indiana in the second round of the women's NCAA tournament on Sunday.

Ionescu scored 29 points, handed out 12 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds for her NCAA-record eighth triple-double of the season. The points and assists were safely in double digits earlier, but Ionescu needed three late rebounds, including one off her own miss on the final Ducks' possession for which she was on the floor, to secure her second triple-double in NCAA tournament play.

Stanford's Nicole Powell is the only other player with multiple triple-doubles in the NCAA tournament -- she had two in back-to-back games in 2002 -- and Ionescu's 29 points are the most ever in an NCAA tournament triple-double.

Ionescu's 18 career triple-doubles are six more than any other player, man or woman, in Division I history.

A junior in eligibility, Ionescu would still be eligible to enter the WNBA draft after the season, and there has been speculation that she could be the No. 1 overall pick. If she chooses to turn pro, this was her last game in Eugene.

"I just love how the fans support me and get really loud and cheer when I get close [to a triple-double], and so it's been awesome playing in front of such a great crowd," Ionescu said in an on-court interview after the game. "I love Eugene and am happy for everyone that came out to support us."

Oregon found itself down 28-24 early in the second quarter when Ionescu turned the game around. Her four-point play began a 19-3 run, and the Ducks never trailed again. Ionescu had 10 points and two assists during the burst that led to a 43-31 halftime advantage.

Ionescu also made five of her nine 3-point attempts, a part of the game that Oregon turned around in the win over the Hoosiers. The Ducks entered the contest as the most accurate 3-point shooting team in the country at 42 percent, but they had hit just 34.1 percent in their past four games. On Sunday, Oregon made 13-of-29 (44.8 percent) as a team.

"I just didn't want to go home, and I knew this was our last time on this home court this year. I just wanted to go out and give it everything I've got," Ionescu said. "My teammates got me the ball in the right time, and they shot the ball great too."

Satou Sabally had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Ducks, and Erin Boley made four 3-pointers and finished with 14 points.

Oregon will meet the winner of Monday's game between Syracuse and South Dakota State in the Portland Regional semifinals.

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