The Washington Huskies (12-3) visit conference foe Purdue (9-7) on Sunday, January 11th at 11am PST.
Washington Huskies Preview
Following a disappointing blowout home loss to the #15-ranked Michigan State Spartans, the Dawgs look to bounce back with a road conference victory.
The Washington Huskies offense currently averages 73.3 points per game; meanwhile, UW’s opponents average 56.2 points per game with a shooting average of 37.7%.
The Huskies are highly efficient scoring at the rim (within 4.5 feet) making 60.9% (196 of 322) of their shots; however, Washington is shooting only 37.8% from farther away in the lane.
The Huskies are shooting 36.7% from deep range, which is close to the Huskies expected standard for a season average (37% last season).
Junior point guard Sayvia Sellers, leads the Huskies offense with a team-leading 18.3 points per game; a team-leading 3.3 assists per game; and a team-leading 1.7 steals per game.
Sayvia is shooting a scorching 40% (40 for 100) from three-point range; while making 54.7% (58 for 106) of her two-point attempts; including, converting 66.1% (37 for 56) at the rim within 4.5 feet, as well as 45.5% farther away in the lane.
6’0″ guard Avery Howell, is the Huskies second leading scorer at 13.5 points per game; while contributing a team-leading 7.7 rebounds per game; and with 1.3 steals per game.
Howell is the Huskies second-leading sharp-shooter from three-point range, making 44.2% (38 for 86) from deep.
Finally, senior guard Elle Ladine is currently the Huskies third-leading scorer at 10.3 points per game.
Ladine converts 69.2% at the rim and 33.3% farther away in the paint; as well as 40% from three-point range.
Freshman forward Brynn McGaughy is the Huskies fourth-leading scorer at 8.0 points per game; second-leading rebounder at 4.8 per game; and has a team-leading 22 blocks this season (1.5 per game).
Purdue Boilermakers Preview
The Purdue Boilermakers average 71.9 points per game; while the Boilermakers defense allows opponents to score 66.3 points per game — a thin margin for victory.
The Boilermakers are most efficient scoring at the rim (within 4.5 feet) making 68.4% of their shots; while making only 36% from farther away in the lane.
The Purdue Boilermakers feature three players averaging double figures in scoring.
Purdue is led by Tara Daye, who is averaging a team-leading 11.9 points per game; as well as a team-leading 6.7 rebounds per game; 2.2. assists; and a second-leading 1.3 steals.
Daye is most effective scoring at-the-rim, converting an extremely efficient 69.6% of her shots; as well as, an impressive 38.3% from farther away in the lane.
Daye is a competent three-point shooter with 30.4% accuracy from deep.
Daye is a competent three-point shooter with 30.4% accuracy from deep.Kiki Smith scores a second-leading 10.8 points per game; as well as contributing a third-leading 2.3 assists per game; and 1.1 steals.
Smith is most effective scoring at the rim (within 4.5 feet) with making 64.1% efficiency; yet, only makes a poor 27.3% from farther out in the lane.
Smith is most effective scoring at the rim (within 4.5 feet) with making 64.1% efficiency; yet, only makes a poor 27.3% from farther out in the lane.Smith offers excellent offensive spacing at 37.1% accuracy from three.
Madison Layden-Zay is averaging a third-leading 10.4 points per game; 4.1 rebounds; 2.6 assists; a team-leading 1.8 steals; and a team-leading 40.9% from three-point range.
UW WBB Huskies Keys to Victory
UW WBB Huskies Keys to VictoryTo secure the victory over the Purdue Boilermakers, the UW Huskies will need to disrupt the Boilermakers by:
(1) attacking Purdue’s transition defense by pushing offensive tempo and using aggressive dribble-drives (primarily by Sayvia Sellers) to pressure and draw fouls from Purdue’s guards and bigs;
(2) stretching Purdue’s half-court defense to its limits with Washington’s 36.7% three-point efficiency, including finding Avery Howell (44.2% from deep) for pick-and-pop and trail threes;
(3) led by Avery Howell and Brynn McGaughy, dominating the Boilermakers with team defensive rebounding to neutralize Purdue’s bigs and limit their second-chance scoring around the rim;
(4) scoring 35-40 points inside-the-paint using Washington’s bigs, as well as dribble drives and cuts to the basket by UW’s perimeter players to relentlessly attack the heart of Purdue’s defense; and
(5) efficiently executing the Huskies offense by limiting Washington’s turnovers to 12 or less.
If the Huskies are efficient offensively and defensively, they should control both the paint and the perimeter to secure a 10-15 point victory over Purdue.
Huskies Win Probability: 88%
GO DAWGS!
