The No. 16 Washington Huskies didn’t have their sharpest offensive night Thursday, but the Huskies still showed why they’re one of the nation’s most complete teams.
After trailing Pacific at the end of the first quarter, Washington tightened up defensively, forced 21 turnovers and took control with a decisive run late in the first half on the way to a 75-54 victory at Alaska Airlines Arena.
The Huskies improved to 2-0 on the season behind four double-figure scorers and a defensive effort that produced 16 steals and 21 points off turnovers. Washington also made its living at the free-throw line, converting 27 of 32 attempts while holding a 27-8 advantage in free-throw scoring.
However, Pacific made things difficult early in a way that required adjustments by Tina Langley and the Husky staff..
The Tigers held Washington to just 23.5 percent shooting in the opening quarter and carried a 14-12 lead into the second. Princeton’s freshman guard Jordyn Dyer provided a spark with a career-high 12 points off the bench, while JoJo Nworie added 11 points and eight rebounds.
Once Washington settled in, however, the game began to tilt in the Dawgs’ favor
The Huskies’ pressure defense disrupted Pacific’s offensive rhythm throughout the night. Devin Coppinger led the way with a career-high five steals, helping fuel the transition opportunities that allowed Washington to gradually create separation.
Quarter-by-Quarter Recap
First Quarter: Pacific Sets the Tone
Washington never found much rhythm offensively during the opening 10 minutes.
The Huskies missed 13 of their first 17 shots and struggled to generate clean looks against Pacific’s physical defense. Dyer came off the bench and provided an immediate boost for the Tigers, scoring six first-quarter points, including two free throws in the closing seconds that gave Pacific a 14-12 lead.
Pacific’s energy and execution controlled the quarter, while Washington spent most of the period searching for answers offensively.
Second Quarter: A 12-0 Run Changes Everything
The game remained tight throughout much of the second quarter.
LaMiracle Lebon made a transition layup to give Pacific a 22-20 lead with under five minutes to play in the half, but then Washington finally broke through.
Coppinger put the Huskies in front for good with a transition basket, and Washington followed with consecutive three-pointers from Avery Howell, Sayvia Sellers and freshman Amayah Garcia. In a matter of minutes, a two-point deficit became a double-digit lead.
The run was fueled by exactly what Washington does best: active hands defensively, pressure in the backcourt and quick offense before the defense could get set.
By halftime, the Huskies had turned a tightly contested game into a 32-24 advantage.
Third Quarter: Pacific Pushes Back
To Pacific’s credit, the Tigers continued to hang around.
The visitors opened the second half with urgency and cut the Washington lead to three points midway through the quarter.
Each time Pacific gained momentum, though, Washington responded.
Avery Howell knocked down a timely three-pointer, Garcia connected from the perimeter, and the Huskies continued earning trips to the free-throw line. By the end of the quarter, Washington had pushed the lead back to nine at 53-44.
Fourth Quarter: Dawgs Finish the Job
The Dawgs finally found the separation it had been chasing all night during the final 10 minutes.
The Huskies opened the quarter with consistent stops, converted turnovers into points and controlled the glass on both ends. Sellers and Howell led the offensive salvo, while Washington’s defense limited Pacific to just 10 fourth-quarter points.
A game that felt competitive through three quarters quickly became comfortable.
Washington closed the game on its terms, outscoring Pacific 22-10 in the fourth quarter to secure the 21-point victory.
Player of the Game: Avery Howell
Washington had several strong performances, but Avery Howell‘s all-around impact stood out.
The junior guard finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals while shooting 5-for-10 from the field, 2-for-5 from three-point range and 3-for-3 from the free-throw line.
Just as importantly, she delivered when the Huskies needed stability.
While Washington’s offense struggled to find a rhythm early, Howell consistently made the right play, whether that meant knocking down an open shot, attacking off the bounce, securing a defensive rebound or creating a turnover. Her third-quarter three-pointer helped halt one Pacific push, and she scored 12 of her 15 points after halftime as the Huskies gradually pulled away.
It wasn’t the loudest performance of the night, but it may have been the most complete.
For a Washington team still building chemistry early in the season, Howell’s efficiency, versatility and steady presence were invaluable.
Other Notable Huskies
Sayvia Sellers: 17 points, 7 assists, 3 steals
Devin Coppinger: 11 points, career-high 5 steals
Brynn McGaughy: 11 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 blocks
Tilda Trygger: 7 points, 8 rebounds
Amayah Garcia: 7 points, 5 rebounds, two key second-quarter three-pointers
