Huskies Falter Late in 66-58 Loss to No. 21 Arizona

Sunday, January 19

Seattle, WA

12:00 PM

University of Washington

10-7, 2-4Pac-12

Arizona

15-3, 4-3Pac-12

Arizona

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

January 19, 2020 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SEATTLE – After a big first quarter, Washington was not able to keep the momentum going, falling 66-58 to No. 21 Arizona in a Pac-12 contest on Sunday afternoon at Alaska Airlines Arena.

The Huskies (10-7, 2-4 Pac-12) received a team-high 24 points from Amber Melgoza, who connected on 9-of-15 from the field, adding six rebounds and a pair of assists. Haley Van Dyke added 11 points and narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds, adding two assists to her Pac-12-leading total.

Washington played possibly its best quarter of the year in the first, outscoring the Wildcats (15-3, 4-3 Pac-12) 27-8 through the first 10 minutes of the game. But it was all Arizona after that as the Wildcats outscored the Huskies 58-31 the rest of the way.

The Huskies outshot Arizona 40%-38% in the game and held a 39-34 rebounding edge. But the biggest edge in the contest came at the free throw line where the Wildcats attempted 29 free throws to Washington's 10.

Washington came out of the gate strong, using an early 10-0 run to take an early 12-2 lead just over three minutes in. Arizona scored a quick three points, but the Huskies responded again with seven-straight points, then closed the quarter by scoring the final eight to lead 27-8 after one. Washington connected on 12-of-19 from the field in the opening quarter, forcing nine Arizona turnovers and converting them into 13 points.

In the second, Arizona State caught fire offensively, using a 13-2 run to pull within seven at 34-27 with 1:53 left in the quarter. Melgoza ended the run with a second-chance bucket and a Rees jumper gave the Huskies a 38-29 lead at the break.

Arizona kept the offense up the third quarter, using a 10-1 run in the over the middle of the quarter to take its first lead of the game on a layup at the 2:20 mark. The Huskies answered back with a three-point play by Alexis Griggsby to go back on top, but the Wildcats would close the quarter by scoring the final three points to take a 49-46 lead after three.

Arizona kept the momentum going in the fourth, scoring the first six points to take a 55-46 lead at the 8:23 mark. After trading buckets, Washington went on an 8-2 run to close back within three at the 2:45 mark. Haley Van Dyke made a tough jumper off a give-and-go with Darcy Rees to start the run, then got a defensive rebound and took it coast-to-coast to make it a five-point game at 57-52 with 5:11 left. After a bucket by Arizona, Mai-Loni Henson scored on a tough runner followed by a Melgoza pull-up from the free throw line to make it 59-56 with 2:45 left.

But the Wildcats would score on their next trip down and forced three UW turnovers over the final minute and a half, then made five of six from the free throw line down to stretch to hold on for the win.

Washington returns to the road next week, traveling to Los Angeles to battle UCLA on Friday at 7:00 p.m.