SEATTLE – The Washington women’s basketball team (8-1, 1-0) brought the Boeing Apple Cup back to Seattle Sunday afternoon in front of an energetic crowd, as the Huskies defeated Washington State (7-2, 0-1) 82-66 at Alaska Airlines Arena in the conference opener.
The 8-1 start to the season is the best nine-game start to Washington’s season since 2016-17, when they also started 8-1 and went on to an NCAA Tournament appearance.
The Huskies snapped the Cougars five-game series win streak in style, never being down at the end of a quarter all game.
“I’m proud of our team,” head coach Tina Langley said. “I thought our effort was really good tonight on both ends of the floor. These women are in the midst of finals, and the time they took to do a great job in the classroom and then also prepare for the court was pretty remarkable, so I’m really proud of their efforts.”
Washington shot 54% from the field, above their season average, and above what the Washington State defense had allowed on average so far this season (36%). The 82 points scored by the Huskies was also well above what the Cougars had been allowing opponents so far this season, with 57.9 points per game being the average heading into this afternoon.
The Husky defense kept the Cougars shooting below their season average (37% compared to 45% going into the game) and the 66 points scored by Washington State was below their average 75.1 points per game heading into the game.
“I can feel our team really coming together and our chemistry working off the court and on the court,” Haley Van Dyke said.
Five Huskies scored in double digits: Lauren Schwartz (21 points), Jayda Noble (14), Dalayah Daniels (12), Trinity Oliver (12), and Van Dyke (10).
“Any team win is amazing, and just to see the growth from the past eight games, each game we’re growing and growing and that’s just really exciting,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz was on fire from the three-point line, going 3-3 in the first half alone and scoring a season-high 13 points through the first two quarters. Schwartz finished with a career-high five made three-pointers (5-6) and a season high 21 points to lead the team in scoring.
Noble’s 14 points was a new career high. She also recorded seven rebounds. Daniels recorded her seventh career double-double (and third as a Husky) with 10 rebounds to go with her 12 points. Van Dyke also recorded six rebounds and tied her season high steals with three.
“I just look at the team day by day and how we are today compared to yesterday, and I just really love the way that we’re growing,” Langley said.
Next Up: Washington hosts the Husky Classic at Alaska Airlines Arena, taking on Liberty on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 12 p.m. and then SIUE on Tuesday, Dec. 20 at 12 p.m.
