El Paso, TX – Down 18 points in the first half, the Ducks rallied back to tie it and defeated UTEP, 71-67, on Monday night in the WNIT quarterfinals.

UTEP had not lost at home prior to the Ducks’ Monday night comeback. With 24 wins, Oregon is now one victory away from matching the school record of 25 wins.

UP NEXT: The Ducks (24-10) move on to the WNIT semifinals and will meet South Dakota at 5 PM PT on Wednesday in Vermillion, S.D.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Oregon scored just nine points in the first quarter and, with 7:51 left in the second quarter, the Ducks trailed the Miners, 27-9.

Kat Cooper hit a three-pointer later in the second, followed by back-to-back buckets from Maite Cazorla to make it a 27-19 lead for UTEP with 2:58 left before halftime. Another jumper by Cazorla followed by another three-pointer from Cooper cut the UTEP lead to five, 29-24, going into the break.

UTEP held on to a slim lead, 50-49, going into the fourth quarter. Lexi Petersenhit a layup with 9:13 left in the game to give the Ducks their first lead, 51-50. UTEP took back the lead,60-58, on a three with 3:19 on the clock. Jacinta Vandenberg tied up the game again with a layup seconds later.

With 2:21 remaining, Cooper hit another three-pointer followed by a steal and score from Petersen to put the Ducks up five, 65-60, with two minutes left. Petersen followed with a three-pointer to put the Ducks up eight with a minute left and Oregon held on for the 71-67 victory.

WNIT HISTORY: Oregon is two wins away from its third WNIT championship. The Ducks took home WNIT titles iin 1989 and 2002.

RECORD BOOK: Lexi Petersen is now tied with Micaela Cocks for the most games played in UO history at 125.

– Oregon Athletics, goducks.com