In a high stakes, high pressure rivalry game that felt like a grudge match, the #25-ranked Washington Huskies outlasted the Oregon Ducks 51–43 on Sunday night at Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
The Dawgs had to grind out their 13th home win of the season in a defensive slugfest that often blurred the line between elite defensive stops and offensive frustration.
What never wavered, though, was Washington’s unwavering resolve to secure the victory, despite a season-high 21 turnovers; plus shooting a mere 38.3% from the field overall, including 31.6% from three-point range.
Washington’s defense dictated the night and held the Ducks to a season‑low 43 points on 30.9% shooting, which told the story.
The Huskies controlled the game early, then survived a prolonged scoring drought, before delivering decisive blows late to secure a win that showcased both their toughness and their timely star power.
In a rivalry built on intensity, the Huskies proved they could win a game where beauty was optional and toughness was mandatory.
STARTING FIVE
1st Quarter
Washington’s exploded out of the gates in the first quarter.
The Huskies came out firing, hitting 42.1% from the field and 40% from deep, with Sayvia Sellers immediately asserting herself.
Sellers drilled three first‑quarter threes on her way to 11 points in the period.
The Ducks looked rattled by Washington’s pressure and overwhelmed on the glass, falling behind 13–1 before they could even settle into the flow.
Oregon sputtered out of the gate—shooting just 30.8% and missing all of its three‑point attempts while committing six turnovers.
Washington powered its way to a commanding 22–9 lead.
2nd Quarter
But the second quarter turned the game on its head.
Washington’s offense collapsed, managing just two field goals on 13 attempts.
The Huskies shot a frigid 15.4% in the period and went scoreless for the final eight and a half minutes.
Oregon seized the opening, shooting 64.3% and ripping off a 15–0 run to erase what had been a double‑digit deficit.
Ducks Mia Jacobs and Sarah Rambus fueled the surge, and by halftime the Ducks had improbably taken a 28–27 lead.
What had looked like a Washington runaway suddenly became a tense, grinding battle.
3rd Quarter
The third quarter, however, belonged to the Huskies’ defense.
Washington’s defense tightened the screws to an almost absurd degree, holding Oregon to 1‑for‑14 shooting—just 7.1%—and reclaiming control despite UW’s own turnover issues.
Sayvia Sellers and Avery Howell steadied the offense with four points each, and Washington shot a blistering 71.4% in the quarter, even without a made three.
Oregon briefly took a 34–33 lead on a layup with 2:53 left, but it would be the Ducks’ only field goal of the period.
Washington carried a 37–34 advantage into the fourth, fortunate to have reestablished momentum after seven Husky turnovers in the period.
4th Quarter
The fourth quarter became a test of the Dawgs’ composure.
Oregon stayed within striking distance, repeatedly cutting the margin to one possession, but could never quite break through.
Washington shot 37.5% in the final period, including a crucial three from Hannah Stines—her 1,000th career point, making her the 33rd Husky to reach the milestone and the third active player on the roster to do so.
However, 6’3″ freshman forward Brynn McGaughy was the one to deliver the dagger.
With just over a minute remaining and Washington clinging to a narrow lead, McGaughy executed a poised, patient post double-move in the paint to finish over Sarah Rambus, pushing the margin to two possessions.
Oregon, shooting just 4‑for‑28 in the second half, had nothing left in the tank.
A late turnover on a misfired pick‑and‑roll sealed the Ducks’ fate, as the Huskies defeated the Oregon, 51-43.
UW WBB Huskies Player of the Game – Sayvia Sellers
Sellers finished with 17 points on 37.5% shooting from three-point range—her 20th straight game in double figures, the longest streak by a Husky since Kelsey Plum’s 2016–17 season.
Sellers also added three assists, two rebounds and one steal — unfortunately, plus 5 turnovers.
Other Notable Husky Performances
Avery Howell added nine points on 33.3% (1 for 3) shooting from three and 100% shooting on her two-point attempts (3 for 3); as well as nine rebounds.
