University of Washington
Concordia (exhibition)
Dawgs Rout Concordia In Exhibition Tilt
November 06, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Facebook Photo Gallery
SEATTLE – Washington got the season underway, overwhelming Concordia in an exhibition game, 95-45. The Huskies had 12 different players see the floor and 10 get in the scorebook as they used the evening to prepare for the regular season that begins next week.
"We played well tonight," said head coach Mike Neighbors. "The score wasn't just because we pressed them or had a ton of offensive rebounds. Our team played really well tonight.”
The Dawgs shot 43 percent for the game, led by Kelsey Plum who had 26 points on 10-15 shooting, while also dishing out six assists. Talia Walton chipped in 19 points, including 4-7 from beyond the arc, while 11 Huskies had at least four rebounds as Washington dominated the glass, 67-44.
Walton started at the three, but then also moved inside where she played last season.
“Talia is going to be better with less minutes this season,” said Neighbors. “We have had to play her so many minutes out of necessity in the past, but her stat line will be better this year playing fewer minutes.”
The Cavaliers actually took a 5-0 lead to begin the game, but Washington responded in a big way. The Dawgs took its first lead at 10-7 on a Walton 3-ball at the 16:37 mark and would not trail again. Washington would make nine-straight shots at one point as it quickly pushed the lead into double digits.
Earning the start at center, Chantel Osahor helped initiate the offense with three early assists. The Dawgs led 47-24 at halftime as Plum had 15 at the break, while Walton had 12, including 3-4 from 3-point range. Jazmine Davis dished out four first-half assists to go with eight points, while Osahor also contributed four rebounds.
“We tried a lot of different combinations,” said Neighbors. “Practice has been so competitive this year, which hasn't always been the case in the past. We just haven't had enough healthy bodies. I have no idea who the fifth starter is going to be, but it was nice to try out several different lineups.”
The Dawgs picked up right where they left off after halftime, beginning on a 36-6 run to push the lead over 50 points. Washington used balance scoring as the entire roster chipped in. Davis finished with 10 points and five assists as the only other player in double figures. Meanwhile, Aminah Williams and Katie Collier had nine points apiece, while Osahor had six. Newcomers Kelli Kingma and Brianna Ruiz contributed five each.
Osahor finished as the team's leading rebounder with eight, while Collier and Alexus Atchley had seven apiece.
Washington will get things going for real next week when they travel to Oklahoma on Friday, November 14. The Sooners have played in 15-straight NCAA Tournaments so it will be an immediate test to see just how the Dawgs stack up.
Oklahoma will have to face a Husky team that returns four starters, but it was the depth that had people talking after the win over Concordia.
“We didn't call a timeout tonight to rest,” said Neighbors. “The depth helps our different lineups be really efficient."
