Huskies Fight Off Late Charge From NAU, Win 72-65
SEATTLE -- Haley Van Dyke had her second double-double in as many games and the UW bench sparked the Huskies during a strong third-quarter run to help Washington (2-0) to a 72-65 win over Northern Arizona (0-2) on Sunday at Alaska Airlines Arena.
Van Dyke had a double-double by halftime -- plus three steals -- and finished with 19 points and a career high 13 rebounds. Nancy Mulkey added 13 points, nine rebounds and three blocks.
The Huskies' bench chipped in 28 points, led by a career-high tying 12 points from T.T. Watkins. Baylor transfer Trinity Oliver chipped in eight points -- all in the second half.
"There were a lot of things I saw that I liked," Coach Tina Langley said in reference to improvements she saw from game one to game two of the season.
She specifically noted the improved depth from the bench.
"I thought our depth improved," Langley said. "I think as we continue to get more players involved and back from injury, that will help us."
This. All of this.
Great team effort.?? https://t.co/BV7qKPz84c#MarchWithUs pic.twitter.com/ClVdS7Mv2r
— Washington Women's Basketball (@UW_WBB) November 14, 2021
The Huskies shot 60 percent in the second half (46% for the game) to help break open a 27-25 Washington halftime advantage.
Northern Arizona scored the first four points of the third quarter to take its only lead of second half, 29-27, which set off an immediate scoring barrage by UW. The Huskies responded with a 9-0 run that eventually ballooned to a 19-2 run and a 15-point advantage for the Huskies at the 1:41 mark of the third. Watkins had eight points during that stretch.
In the fourth quarter, Missy Peterson buried a three-pointer with 6:55 on the clock giving the Huskies their largest advantage, 61-40. But the Lumberjacks would not go away and went on a 21-5 run to cut the lead to five points with 1:07 remaining in the game.
That would be the closest NAU would get to the Huskies, as Van Dyke expanded the lead back to seven with a layup and closed out the Huskies' scoring with a pair of free throws to give UW a nine-point advantage with 11-seconds remaining.
"I thought how we responded to adversity continues to show very good character," Langley said.
The Huskies return to action next Saturday, Nov. 20 at 2:00 p.m. against nationally-ranked Louisville.