Nov. 18, 2009

Final Stats |  Quotes
Post-Game Interviews Jackson | Whitcomb

SEATTLE - Sami Whitcomb scored the final 12 points for the Huskies, including the game-winning 3-pointer with 4.0 seconds remaining, to seal a dramatic, 67-66, win for the Washington women's basketball team over Brigham Young.

As the ball swished through the net, Bank of America Arena erupted. And when the last-gasp shot from BYU fell short, Whitcomb - who led all scorers with 25 points - leapt into the arms of her teammate Mackenzie Argens as the bench swarmed her. Could you have drawn up a better ending to the Huskies (1-1) home opener?

Her voice hoarse from the excitement, Whitcomb said she never felt discouraged when the Cougars (1-1) carved out a large lead in the second half.

"We never gave up and we always believed we could do it," Whitcomb said. "It was great to see it executed like it was."

The final play, however, didn't go exactly as scripted.

Washington's coaches wanted to get the ball into Whitcomb on the low post, but the Huskies had trouble finding a sure passing lane. So Whitcomb drifted out to the perimeter, took the ball, and watched the seconds tick off the clock. Then she noticed her defender was more focused on taking away the drive.

"The person guarding Sami played her with her hands down so she read it and took advantage of it," coach Tia Jackson said. "It was a big-time shot."

Big time, indeed. And the first of that variety that Whitcomb could remember in her career.

The Huskies were able to scratch back into the game by shutting down BYU's offense. They also hounded the Cougars into 31 turnovers. But it was Whitcomb who provided the needed push towards the "W."

For Washington, there was also some redemption after the endgame scenario in their opener against Portland State, when the Vikings hit a jumper with 0.3 seconds remaining to win by Wednesday's exact same margin, 67-66. Despite leading for most of the game and dominating the stat sheet, the Huskies were instead dealt a frustrating loss. This time, the roles were reversed. BYU out-shot Washington, 50 percent to 40, yet it was the Huskies who pulled the escape act.

"I guess this is what it feels like on the other side of this past Saturday," Jackson said.

Sarah Morton, who fed Whitcomb on the game-winning shot, finished with a career-high 12 points. The junior guard also added five assists. Regina Rogers came off the bench to score 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

Washington continues its season on the road in a much-anticipated matchup with West Coast Conference foe Gonzaga in Spokane on Sunday.