Big Second Half Dooms Huskies in 81-46 Loss at Utah

Sunday, February 18

Salt Lake City, UT

1:00 PM

University of Washington

7-20, 1-15Pac12

Utah

17-10, 8-8Pac12

Washington

Utah

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

February 18, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

SALT LAKE CITY --- Washington stayed close with Utah through the first half but the Utes pulled away with a big second half as the Huskies lost 81-46 on Sunday afternoon at the Huntsman Center.

The Huskies fall to 7-20 and to 1-15 in the Pac-12, falling in their final road game of the regular season. The Utes improve to 17-10 and to 8-8 in the conference.

Amber Melgoza led the Huskies with 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting to lead the Huskies. Mai-Loni Henson scored seven points for Washington while Alexis Griggsby added six points.

But the story of the game was the tale of two halves. The Huskies put on a defensive show in the first half, forcing 13 turnovers and limiting Utah to just 24 points. Washington had 23 points and was looking strong. The second half belonged to the Utes, though, as Utah outscored the 57-23 over the final 20 minutes and turned the ball over just four times.

Melgoza got the first bucket of the game to give the Huskies an early 2-0 lead, but Utah responded with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes to go up 10-2 with 5:05 left. But Washington got back-to-back three-pointers from Jenna Moser and Mai-Loni Henson to cut the lead to two, but would trail 15-10 at the end of one. The Huskies shot just 25% in the first quarter, but forced seven turnovers which led to eight UW points.

Washington came out firing in the second opening the quarter on an 8-2 run to take the lead back at 18-17 as Melgoza hit a tough runner with 4:43 left. Utah would take back the lead thanks to three free throws over its next two possessions, but the Huskies tied the game on a driving layup by Melgoza with two minutes left, making it 20-20. After the Utes ended a nearly six-minute streak without a bucket, they got an easy inside layup. Washington again took back the lead on a three by Hannah Johnson, but a Utah layup and took a 24-23 lead to the half.

However, the Utes took control in the third quarter, outscoring the Huskies 37-6 in the quarter including a 21-2 run over the final 4:37 of the period.

Washington opened the fourth quarter with five quick points, but Utah answered with a 13-0 run to take a 40-point lead midway through the period. The Huskies would respond with an 11-0 run started by back-to-back three-pointers by Griggsby to get the score within 74-45.

The Huskies close out the regular season next week with a pair of home games. First up, Washington welcomes No. 14 Stanford to Alaska Airlines Arena on Friday at 8:00 p.m.