The Washington Huskies (14-4, 4-3 Big Ten) added a very important victory to their B1G 10 campaign, grinding out a 67–54 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers (12-6, 3-4 Big Ten) at Hec Ed.
Washington’s 13-point victory was far from easy or comfortable, as the Dawgs needed resilience, defense, and a steady dose of Sayvia Sellers to overcome a hot early start from Minnesota.
For the game, Washington shot only a modest 45.8% from the field overall, including just 21.1% from three-point range.
However, Washington dictated the game with in-the-paint offense, tough rebounding, and defensive intensity.
The Huskies scored 44 points-in-the paint; and outrebounded Minnesota 37–33.
Meanwhile, the Dawgs held the Golden Gophers to their lowest point total of the season on 39.3% shooting overall.
Washington’s tough, physical performance builds postseason credibility and will surely be added to their resume for the NCAA Tournament committee.
Moreover, the per-quarter narrative (see below) tells a story of growth and in-game adaptation. After trailing after the first quarter, Washington methodically solved Minnesota’s attack, flipped the game in the second, exploded in the third, and locked it down in the fourth.
UW WBB Huskies Player of the Game – Sayvia Sellers
Sayvia Sellers scored 23 points on a highly efficient 64.3% shooting from the field overall, including a red-hot 42.9% from three-point range.
Beyond the scoring, Sellers orchestrated the offense with 4 assists and impacted both ends with 2 steals, 1 block, and a rebound.
Sellers provide scoring in every quarter, and her fingerprints were on every key stretch where the Huskies seized or protected their lead.
Other Notable Huskies Performances
Hannah Stines added 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, providing two-way impact for the Dawgs.
Elle Ladine scored 8 points, all in the pivotal third quarter, and also grabbed 6 rebounds while recording three of Washington’s seven steals.
Yulia Grabovskaia and Brynn McGaughy each chipped in eight points, giving the Huskies interior scoring threats that Minnesota struggled to fully contain.
Avery Howell’s 12 rebounds were pivotal, along with her six points and four assists.
STARTING FIVE
1st Quarter – Minnesota Strikes First
The game opened with Washington intent on attacking the rim.
The Huskies’ first three buckets came on layups from Yulia Grabovskaia, Sellers, and Hannah Stines, signaling a clear game plan: challenge the Golden Gophers inside.
Even so, Washington struggled to convert shots consistently, finishing the first quarter at 37.5% from the field and just 1-for-6 (16.7%) from beyond the arc.
Minnesota, by contrast, came out firing with confidence, especially from deep.
The Golden Gophers shot 50% both from the field and from three (3-of-6), using that perimeter accuracy to offset Washington’s early paint touches.
A 5–0 Minnesota run capped by a Mara Braun three pushed the visitors out to a 17–10 lead late in the period. Washington’s defense was solid in spots, but the Huskies’ offense lagged behind the Golden Gophers’ shot-making.
Yet, even in that shaky opening frame, the Huskies found a stabilizing force in Sellers.
Another encouraging sign was Washington’s presence on the glass, they collected 10 rebounds in the quarter, including three on the offensive end.
Sayvia Sellers led Washington with five first-quarter points, while Stines, Avery Howell, Grabovskaia, and Chloe Briggs each chipped in two points.
However, the Huskies still trailed 13–17 at the end of one.
2nd Quarter – Huskies Surge, Seize Lead
Washington’s second quarter performance felt like a turning point.
The Huskies responded to their slow first quarter start with an efficient, composed offensive stretch, shooting a blistering 63.6% from the field (7-of-11).
Significantly, they did it without relying on the three-point line (0-for-1 from deep) and instead doubled down on paint touches and drives.
Defensively, the Dawgs tightened the screws on the Golden Gophers.
Minnesota’s shooting cooled to 35.7% in the second quarter, and the Huskies completely took away the three-point line, holding the Golden Gophers to 0-for-2 from deep.
Washington began to take control of game tempo and flipped the scoreboard and the energy inside Hec Ed.
Sayvia Sellers was once again at the center of the surge, scoring six points in the period; and received balanced support from Hannah Stines and Yulia Grabovskaia, who added 4 points each; while Avery Howell chipped in two points; and Devon Coppinger added one point.
The Huskies outscored the Gophers in the period 17-10, and went into halftime with a 30–27 lead.
3rd Quarter – Elle Ladine Ignites, Huskies Breakout
In the third quarter, the Huskies broke the game open — Washington exploded for 26 points in the period on a modest 47.4% shooting from the field, including 25% from three (2 of 8) from three (25%).
However, the Huskies’ offensive depth truly surfaced when
Elle Ladine exploded for all eight of her points, including a key three-pointer that energized the crowd and stabilized Washington’s lead.
Meanwhile, Avery Howell dominated the glass, pulling down four of her team-leading 12 rebounds during the frame, fueling transition and second-chance opportunities.
Still, Minnesota tried to hang around by shooting a respectable 46.2% overall and 33.3% from three — including a brief 5–0 scoring run that trimmed UW’s lead to 45–41 with just over four minutes remaining. Yet the Huskies responded with composure.
Beyond Ladine’s team-leading eight points in the period; Sayvia Sellers added seven points; Brynn McGaughy contributed six points; Hanna Stines added three points; and Avery Howell added two points.
By the end of the quarter, the Huskies held a 12-point lead, 56–44, firmly in control and clearly the more physical and balanced team.
4th Quarter – Defensive Lockdown Seals Victory
Washington entered the fourth quarter and shifted into closer mode, primarily on the defensive end.
The Huskies shot 38.5% in the final period (5-of-13) and 25% from three (1-of-4), which was decent but far from spectacular.
However, their defense turned suffocating, limiting Minnesota to just 26.7% from the field despite the Golden Gophers hitting 40% from deep (2-of-5) in the quarter.
Crucially, only two Minnesota players scored in the final frame, underscoring how thoroughly Washington disrupted the Golden Gophers’ offensive rhythm.
Offensively in the fourth, Sayvia Sellers once again set the tone for the Dawgs with five points; Hannah Stines, Yulia Grabovskaia, and Brynn McGaughy added two points each.
Even when Minnesota staged a late 5–0 scoring burst to narrow the margin to 63–51 with under two minutes left, the Huskies remained poised.
The Dawgs calmly closed the game out and secured the 67–54 victory without allowing any serious comeback threat.
