Friday, January 5
Seattle, WA
6:00 PM
University of Washington
6-8, 0-3Pac-12
65
vs
74
Utah
11-3, 2-1Pac-12
1
2
3
4
F
Utah
31
15
16
12
74
Washington
16
10
16
23
65
Photo by: Red Box Pictures
Late Washington Rally Falls Short in 74-65 Loss to Utah
January 05, 2018 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE – Washington used a big push in the fourth quarter to cut into a big first-half deficit, but in the end ran out of time, falling 74-65 to Utah on Friday night at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Amber Melgoza continued her hot play, scoring 21 points including 14 in the second half for the Huskies (6-8, 0-3 Pac-12), thanks in large part to hitting 10-of-11 from the charity stipe. Jenna Moser added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field while Kierra Collier scored 12 points.
But despite the furious comeback, Washington could not overcome a 26-2 Utah (11-3, 2-1 Pac-12) run which spanned the first and second quarters. The Utes broke open a 14-14 tie with the run and took its largest lead of the game at 40-16 with 6:56 left in the 2nd.
Washington would cut the lead to 20 at halftime and still trailed by the same count as the 4th quarter began. The Huskies would erupt in the fourth, outscoring Utah 23-12 including an 18-6 run midway through the period to cut it to 11 late. Washington continued to chip away and got within eight with 20 seconds left but could get no closer.
The Huskies struggled from the field, hitting just 35.9% from the field in the game including going 4-of-19 in the second quarter. However, Washington connected on 6-of-10 in the final 10 minutes and added nine points from the free throw line. The Huskies also held Utah—which had shot 58% from the field through the first three quarters—to just 3-of-10 in the final quarter.
Washington forced a season-high 20 turnovers—its most in three Pac-12 games—and turned them into 24 points while committing just 11 turnovers. The Huskies also hung with the conference leader in turnover margin as Utah out-rebounded Washington 38-30, though the Dawgs held a 13-9 edge on the offensive glass.
Melgoza scored 18 or more points for the sixth-straight game and is now averaging 23.3 points over her last six. Over that stretch she is shooting 47.4% from the field, 40% from three-point range and 84.4% from the free throw line.
Washington hda a pair of uncharacteristic numbers in the game: the biggest was just five assists on 23 made baskets. The Huskies had been averaging 15.3 assists per game and had recorded assists on 57% of their field goal attempts. In addition, Washington received just four points from its bench as Utah held a 29-4 edge in bench scoring. The Huskies bench combined to go 2-for-18 but did record four of the team's eight steals and 12 rebounds.
Neither team was able to take control early in the game with the largest lead by either side just three points through the first six minutes. But Utah closed out the first quarter on an extended 17-2 run to break the close game open and lead 31-16 after 10 minutes. The Utes hit four three-pointers in the first quarter including three over the final 2:30 and hit 11-of-15 from the field overall. Washington started hot, hitting 5-of-6, but finished 2-for-12 from the field.
Utah stayed hot in the second half, opening the period on a 9-0 run to take a 40-16 lead at the 6:56 mark. UW snapped a streak of 13-straight missed shots and made its first basket in over seven minutes as Melgoza hit a jumper, keying a 6-0 run to make it 40-22 with 3:20 left. The Huskies would keep it close the rest of the period and cut the deficit to just 20 at 46-26 at intermission.
The third quarter started with the teams going back and forth until Washington broke off an 8-2 run to make it 56-40 with 1:30 left. Melgoza keyed the run, scoring six of the eight points during the run. But the Utes continued to shoot well, hitting their final five shots of the quarter and held on to the 20-point lead at 62-42.
The Huskies were able to put it all together in the fourth quarter and closed the gap in a big way. After Utah hit a three on its first possession, Washington went on an 11-1 run to quickly close the gap to 13 at 66-53 with 6:40 to play with Moser and Melgoza teaming up for all 11 points. The teams exchanged buckets over the next three minutes, but the Huskies used another run, scoring five-straight to close to within eight with 21 seconds left. But Washington would run out of time, ending up falling by nine.
The Huskies close out the home stand against Colorado on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Amber Melgoza continued her hot play, scoring 21 points including 14 in the second half for the Huskies (6-8, 0-3 Pac-12), thanks in large part to hitting 10-of-11 from the charity stipe. Jenna Moser added 16 points on 7-of-11 shooting from the field while Kierra Collier scored 12 points.
But despite the furious comeback, Washington could not overcome a 26-2 Utah (11-3, 2-1 Pac-12) run which spanned the first and second quarters. The Utes broke open a 14-14 tie with the run and took its largest lead of the game at 40-16 with 6:56 left in the 2nd.
Washington would cut the lead to 20 at halftime and still trailed by the same count as the 4th quarter began. The Huskies would erupt in the fourth, outscoring Utah 23-12 including an 18-6 run midway through the period to cut it to 11 late. Washington continued to chip away and got within eight with 20 seconds left but could get no closer.
The Huskies struggled from the field, hitting just 35.9% from the field in the game including going 4-of-19 in the second quarter. However, Washington connected on 6-of-10 in the final 10 minutes and added nine points from the free throw line. The Huskies also held Utah—which had shot 58% from the field through the first three quarters—to just 3-of-10 in the final quarter.
Washington forced a season-high 20 turnovers—its most in three Pac-12 games—and turned them into 24 points while committing just 11 turnovers. The Huskies also hung with the conference leader in turnover margin as Utah out-rebounded Washington 38-30, though the Dawgs held a 13-9 edge on the offensive glass.
Melgoza scored 18 or more points for the sixth-straight game and is now averaging 23.3 points over her last six. Over that stretch she is shooting 47.4% from the field, 40% from three-point range and 84.4% from the free throw line.
Washington hda a pair of uncharacteristic numbers in the game: the biggest was just five assists on 23 made baskets. The Huskies had been averaging 15.3 assists per game and had recorded assists on 57% of their field goal attempts. In addition, Washington received just four points from its bench as Utah held a 29-4 edge in bench scoring. The Huskies bench combined to go 2-for-18 but did record four of the team's eight steals and 12 rebounds.
Neither team was able to take control early in the game with the largest lead by either side just three points through the first six minutes. But Utah closed out the first quarter on an extended 17-2 run to break the close game open and lead 31-16 after 10 minutes. The Utes hit four three-pointers in the first quarter including three over the final 2:30 and hit 11-of-15 from the field overall. Washington started hot, hitting 5-of-6, but finished 2-for-12 from the field.
Utah stayed hot in the second half, opening the period on a 9-0 run to take a 40-16 lead at the 6:56 mark. UW snapped a streak of 13-straight missed shots and made its first basket in over seven minutes as Melgoza hit a jumper, keying a 6-0 run to make it 40-22 with 3:20 left. The Huskies would keep it close the rest of the period and cut the deficit to just 20 at 46-26 at intermission.
The third quarter started with the teams going back and forth until Washington broke off an 8-2 run to make it 56-40 with 1:30 left. Melgoza keyed the run, scoring six of the eight points during the run. But the Utes continued to shoot well, hitting their final five shots of the quarter and held on to the 20-point lead at 62-42.
The Huskies were able to put it all together in the fourth quarter and closed the gap in a big way. After Utah hit a three on its first possession, Washington went on an 11-1 run to quickly close the gap to 13 at 66-53 with 6:40 to play with Moser and Melgoza teaming up for all 11 points. The teams exchanged buckets over the next three minutes, but the Huskies used another run, scoring five-straight to close to within eight with 21 seconds left. But Washington would run out of time, ending up falling by nine.
The Huskies close out the home stand against Colorado on Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Team Stats
UTAH
WASH
FG%
.528
.359
3FG%
.333
.231
FT%
.813
.727
RB
38
30
TO
20
11
STL
6
8
Game Leaders
Pts
21
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
10
Pts
16
FGM
7
3FGM
2
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
Pts
8
FGM
2
3FGM
0
FTM
4
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballG
/ Women's BasketballWashington 67, UC San Diego 50 | Huskies Highlights
Saturday, November 29
Washington Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference: Vermont
Monday, November 24
No. 25 Washington 71, Vermont 39 | Huskies Highlights
Monday, November 24
Washington Women's Basketball Postgame Press Conference: Fresno State
Thursday, November 20
