Hot Second-Half Shooting Leads Utes Past Huskies, 84-63
SALT LAKE CITY – Washington junior Haley Van Dyke put together a stat-stuffing performance, but the Huskies (4-5, 1-5 Pac-12) could not overcome a hot-shooting second-half from Utah (3-5, 2-5) and dropped their third-straight game, 84-63, Sunday at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City.
Van Dyke had team highs of 16 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, plus three assists and a steal to put together her most-balanced game of the year. Khayla Rooks added 11 points and Darcy Rees had 12 off the bench for the Huskies, who dropped their fifth-straight game in Pac-12 play.
The game was back-and-forth for the first 25 minutes before Utah started gaining some distance in the scoring column. The Huskies trailed at halftime, 31-28, but tied the game on their first possession on a Tameiya Sadler three-pointer. It ended up being the only points of the game for UW's leading scorer. Alexis Griggsby would give Washington a 36-35 lead on a 3-pointer with 6:52 remaining in the third quarter, but the Huskies only points over for the following four minutes were a pair of free throws by Van Dyke.
The Utes took advantage and went on an 8-2 run during the Huskies' dry spell to take a lead they would never give up. They capped the third on an 8-0 run to take a 10-point advantage into the fourth, and kept things rolling with a 9-2 run over the first 3:15 of the fourth quarter to expand their lead to 17. Utah would go on to outscore UW, 29-16, in the fourth quarter.
Brynna Maxwell spurred the Utes second-half onslaught with all 24 of her points coming in the final 20 minutes. She was perfect from the field in the fourth quarter alone on 3 of 3 shooting – 2 of 2 from 3-point range – and was 7 for 7 from the free throw line. She was one of four Utes to reach double-figure scoring.
The Utes shot 56.3 percent (13 of 23) in the second half and were 21 for 24 at the free throw line (87.5%).
The Huskies now head home where a Friday night showdown against No. 6 Arizona awaits them.