Preview: Northwestern Wildcats at No. -- Oregon Ducks EUGENE, Ore. (Interstat) — The No. -- Oregon Ducks, looking to rebound from a tough double-overtime loss, will host the struggling Northwestern Wildcats in a nonconference women’s basketball matchup on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, at Matthew Knight Arena. Oregon (12-3) enters the new year with a strong overall record but is coming off a 92-87 double-overtime defeat to Michigan on Monday. The Ducks had won seven of their previous eight before dropping two of their last three, including a road loss to Stanford. Guard Katie Fiso has been the engine for Oregon, averaging a near double-double in recent games. She logged 44 minutes and scored 24 points in the loss to Michigan and dished out 14 assists in a win over Oregon State earlier this month. Northwestern (6-7) seeks to halt a five-game losing streak, its most recent a 94-73 road loss at Washington on Monday. The Wildcats have faced a difficult schedule, with four of those five losses coming against power conference opponents. Their fortunes hinge heavily on the scoring of guard Grace Sullivan, who has been prolific despite the losses. Sullivan dropped 37 points against Ohio State and 30 in the loss at Washington, but she was held to just six points in 8 minutes in a one-point loss to Loyola Chicago. The game, organized by the Big Ten, pits Oregon’s high-powered offense against a Northwestern team searching for consistency. The Ducks have scored 85 or more points in four games this season, while the Wildcats have allowed 85 or more in three of their last five outings. For Northwestern, containing Fiso’s all-around play will be critical. For Oregon, the focus will be on slowing Sullivan and capitalizing on home court advantage to start 2026 with a victory. Up Next: Northwestern opens Big Ten play at home against Iowa on Jan. 5. Oregon continues its nonconference slate at Southern California on Jan. 6.