Davis Big Again As UW Knocks Off Pitt, 76-69
Box Score
LAS VEGAS – Washington (6-4) earned a big win over an ACC opponent Saturday, defeating Pittsburgh (7-6), 76-69. The Dawgs got a second 30-point game of the Duel in the Desert from Jazmine Davis to improve to 2-1 in the Las Vegas tournament.
Davis took over down the stretch as the Panthers looked to get back in the game, scoring 19 of her points in the second half. The junior shot 8-16 from the floor, including 3-8 from 3-point range and 11-12 from the foul line.
Davis was named a member of the Duel in the Desert All-Tournament Team after scoring 70 points over three days and helping the Dawgs to a pair of wins.
Dressing just seven players on Saturday, Washington used a hot start to control the game and never trailed.
Washington surged to an early lead, using an effective zone defense to stifle Pittsburgh. Mercedes Wetmore scored the first six points as the Dawgs built a 9-0 lead, holding Pitt to 0-11 shooting over the first six minutes.
Pitt chipped away at the lead, getting within one, 20-19, with 7:19 to play in the half. Washington refused to relinquish the lead, however, as Kelsey Plum got hot from 3-point range. Plum finished the half with four triples for 12 points. Washington shot 7-16 from the 3-point line in the half with all seven makes coming from Plum and Davis.
The Panther outrebounded Washington, 26-20, for the half, but the Huskies still led, 33-28, at the break.
In the second half, the Huskies extended the lead to nine at the 17:04 mark on a 3-pointer from Talia Walton. That would be their largest lead of the half, however, as the Panthers clawed their way back into the game.
Pittsburgh tied the game at 51-51 with 9:38 to play, but never took a lead as Davis finished a layup and after a second tie completed a 3-point play to keep the Dawgs on top. The combination of Davis slashing and hot shooting from Walton down the stretch helped Washington hang onto a big win.
Walton finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, but scored 12 of her points after the break.
Plum finished with 19 points, while Aminah Williams was all over the glass again, snagging 14 rebounds. Williams finished with 40 rebounds over the 3-day tournament.
Wetmore had her usual well-rounded game, finishing with eight points, three assists and three steals.
The Dawgs shot 41.9 percent (26-62) for the game, but 50 percent (15-30) in the second half. A rugged Pitt squad edged Washington on the glass, 45-42.
The Dawgs will now get a short break to visit their families for the Holiday, before returning to campus next week to prepare for UC Irvine. The Dawgs host the Anteaters for the final non-conference game on Monday, December 30, at 7 p.m.