Husky Classic Game Preview: UW WBB Hosts SIUE at Hec Ed @ 12Noon

On Sunday, December 18th at 12PM, the (8-2) Washington Huskies will resume their nonconference schedule by hosting the (1-9) SIUE Cougars at Hec Ed.

The game will be streamed on the Washington Live Stream (GoHuskies.com/Live).

Despite having only one win, SIUE challenged Liberty tougher than the Huskies, losing 78 – 80.

For more context, SIUE lost 43-93 to Iowa State on November 29th, 2022; as well as, losing to Louisville 32-105 on December 6th.

Of course, none of this is relevant to how the Huskies will fare after losing to Liberty at home, 54 – 66.

OFFENSE

SIUE averages 56.4 points per game versus 66.6 points per game by the Huskies.

The Cougars are lead by 5’3″ guard #11 Niya Danfort, their only double figures scorer at 11.3 points per game.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

5’8″ guard #24 Sofie Lowis averages 9.8 points per game.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

The next highest scoring averages for SIUE are as follows.

5’8″ guard #14 Molly Sheehan averages 8.5 points per game.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

6’2″ forward #5 Ajulu Thatha averages 7.8 points per game.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

5’6″ guard #33 KK Rodriguez leads the team in assists with 2.8 per game, while averaging 6.5 points per game.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

Besides being a low scoring team, the SIUE Cougars do not have a highly efficient offense, shooting 32% overall from the field — 36.0% on two-pointers (mostly in the lane) and only 26.9% from three-point range.

Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics. Chart courtesy of CBBAnalytics.

However, the Huskies’ offense is similarly inefficient from three-point range (23%) albeit with somewhat better shooting overall (40%) and much better from two-point range, mostly in the lane (49.8).

The Huskies cannot afford to get in a three-point shooting contest with SIUE.

Although the Cougars struggle offensively from three-point range, the Huskies defense continues to struggle defending three-pointers — allowing (previously 28% accurate) SIUE three-point shooters to shoot 50% from three is evidence of this.

Specifically, if the Huskies can effectively defend the three-point line and dominate the boards, it should be a decisive victory over SIUE.

However, it depends on which Washington Huskies team shows up at Hec Ed; this could be a decisive victory, a close game or another upset loss.

GO DAWGS!

*Charts courtesy of CBBAnalytics.