Huskies Battle USC Friday
SEATTLE - The resilient Huskies (4-8, 1-8 Pac-12) return to action this weekend against the Los Angeles schools and will host USC (7-7, 4-5) on Friday night at Alaska Airlines Arena before welcoming in No. 5 UCLA on Sunday. Friday's tip against the Trojans is at 7:00 p.m. and all the action can been seen on the Huskies live stream platform.
While Washington hobbles into the weekend short on bodies, they are still showing plenty of fight. After struggling in the first quarter against sixth-ranked Stanford on Sunday, the Huskies responded by fighting the Cardinal tough with a group consisting of six players that started their UW careers on scholarship and three that began as walk-ons. The Huskies will depend on the same group to try and snap a six-game skid against USC on Friday.
Besides the live stream, fans can listen locally to Gary Hill Jr. on the UW/IMG College Network on KKNW 1150 AM, on the TuneIn App, or GoHuskies.com.
Leading the Break
• Quay Miller is the only Husky to start every game this season. Haley Van Dyke (11 starts) and Nia Lowery (1 start) are the only other Huskies to play in all 12 games.
• UW had to play No. 6 Stanford with three starters missing: Tameiya Sadler (inj.), Khayla Rooks (inj.) and Jayda Noble (personal). In addition, Alexis Whitfield missed her 8th straight game.
• Miller averaged 17 points in two games last week. leading the team in scoring against both Oregon State (20) and Stanford (14). She has now led the team in scoring five times, most of any Husky (Sadler & Haley Van Dyke 3 times, Darcy Rees 1).
• Nia Lowery made the most of her first career start on Sunday against Stanford. She tallied 9 points and two steals in 21 minutes -- all career highs for the redshirt-freshman.
• AJ Martineau saw 21 minutes of action against Stanford on Sunday. In her eight previous appearances, the freshman had combined for 13 minutes total. While she did not attempt a shot, Martineau grabbed a career-high three rebounds and drew a charge on defense that brought her team's bench to its feet.
• Carol Chikusa was elevated from the practice squad prior to the Huskies game on Sunday. She played two minutes against the sixth-ranked Cardinal. Chikusa is majoring in neuroscience and would one day like to become a neurosurgeon.
Scouting the Trojans
USC brings a 7-7 overall record, 5-6 in Pac-12 play to Alaska Airlines Arena. Sophomore guard Endyia Rogers is the unquestioned leader on the floor, averaging a team-best 17.6 points and 3.9 assists per game. Jordan Sanders is the only other Trojans' player in double-figures, averaging 13.9 points per game. Freshman forward Jordyn Jenkins is a former teammate at Kentridge HS of UW sophomore Quay Miller.
Rogers is the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week after pouring in 30 points against Arizona State last Sunday. Rogers has now scored in double figures in 10 straight games. The win snapped a four-game losing skid for the Trojans. It was the only game of the week for the Trojans as their Friday night game was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Arizona program. So far this season, USC is 0-4 in road contests.
Mark Trakh is in his second run as coach at USC. He returned to USC in 2017-18 and has now spent a total of nine seasons leading the Women of Troy. His first stint ran from 2005-09. His career record at USC stands 151-109, 454-312 overall in 25 years.
All-Time Series vs USC
Washington holds a 37-32 lead in the all-time series between the two schools. UW snapped a three-game win streak against USC with a 75-66 win on Jody Wynn's birthday last February 21. USC won the other game last year in L.A., a thrilling overtime contest. Prior to USC's three-game winning streak, Washington had won seven-straight against the Trojans. Overall the Huskies have won 21 of 31 vs USC in Seattle including five of the last six.
Last Game
Hannah Jump came off the bench to lead four Stanford double-figure scorers with 15 points as the sixth-ranked Cardinal handed a short-handed Washington squad a 74-48 loss at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday. The Huskies (4-8, 1-8) were limited to a nine-person roster against the Cardinal that included seven scholarship players and two walk ons. Starters Tameiya Sadler (injury), Khayla Rooks (injury) and Jayda Noble (personal) were all absent. Sophomore Quay Miller led Washington with 14 points, hitting an array of shots from inside and outside. Haley Van Dyke, Rees and Nia Lowery each chipped in nine points. For Lowery, she made her first career start and established a new career high for scoring.
Up Next
The Huskies will host No. 5 UCLA at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, Feb. 7 at 2:00 p.m.
COVID Cancellations
Washington has missed six games due to COVID-19 protocols, including its Jan. 29 game vs. California. The other games missed: Dec. 21 vs. Oregon State, Jan. 8 vs. Arizona, Jan. 10 vs. Arizona State, Jan. 15 at USC and Jan. 17 at UCLA.
Classroom Excellence
Of Washington's 22 programs, the Husky women's basketball team was named the Most Improved Team for academics after the Autumn 2020 quarter with a combined grade point average of 3.57. In all, 20 programs were above 3.0 with an overall average GPA of 3.42. A student-athlete from each program was also selected as Student of the Quarter, with Quay Miller earning the recognition from women's basketball.