« Women’s Basketball 2019-20

Ruthy Hebard

School
Oregon
Position
Forward
Major
Journalism: Public Relations

Classroom

Hebard is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in journalism with a focus in public relations. She is on track to graduate this spring.

Character

Quiet by nature, Hebard has gone out of her comfort zone during her time at Oregon and has established herself as a strong leader and a steady presence in the Ducks’ locker room. “She’s kind of out of her shell and I’m just proud of her,” former teammate Maite Cazorla said. “She is just such a good person and loving. She makes all of us just stick together and look out for each other. She just brings a lot.”

“You can’t say any bad thing about Ruthy because she is so selfless and she’s a great player,” Satou Sabally said. “[She’s] just so open-minded and we can always go to her and talk with her and she will protect you with her life. She’s the same way she is on the court: selfless and just there for you if you need her.”

Community

Hebard has formed a special relationship with a local 4th-grader named Sam, whom she met after one of the Ducks’ home games. Like Hebard, Sam is adopted, and they have bonded over their shared family situation. Hebard goes to Sam’s YMCA games and cheers him on, and Sam does the same at Hebard’s home games at Matthew Knight Arena.

Hebard also takes time after every game to sign autographs and take pictures with the many young Oregon fans who look up to her.

Competition

Hebard is a 2019 WBCA honorable mention All-American, a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, the 2018 Katrina McClain Power Forward of the Year Award winner and a 2017 Pac-12 All-Freshman selection. In 2017-18, Hebard set an NCAA record (men’s and women’s) with 33 consecutive field goals made. Hebard owns the top two spots in UO single-season history for field goal percentage and is also in the top 10 twice for rebounds in a season. She enters her senior season at No. 6 all-time in career points, No. 5 in career rebounds and No. 8 in blocked shots in Oregon history. In 2018-19, Hebard averaged 16.1 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while helping lead the Ducks to the first NCAA Final Four in program history.