University of Washington
Houston
Argens Leads Way In Blowout Win For Huskies
December 18, 2011 | Women's Basketball
Dec. 18, 2011
SEATTLE - A career day from Mackenzie Argens carried the Washington women's basketball team to a dominant 85-60 win over Houston at Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday.
The senior forward had one of her best games in a Husky uniform, totaling 19 points and 17 rebounds against the Cougars. The latter statistic equaled her career-high from last season, set at BYU.
"I felt like we were really moving the ball well, we've been practicing that," Argens said. "We were cutting well and getting open for each other, and I thought we were attacking the hoop."
Facing a depleted Houston team, the Huskies (7-2) showed no mercy from tipoff, racing out to an 8-0 run and leading by as many as 29 late in the second half. The Cougars (1-10), beset by injuries and missing their leading scorer, dressed just seven players for the matinee.
Five different Huskies scored in double figures, with Argens and Mollie Williams both posting double-doubles. It was the fourth such feat for Argens and the first for Williams (11 points and 12 rebounds), who provided support off the bench. Kellie McCann-Smith added a career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers, while Regina Rogers - who came into the game leading the nation in field goal percentage - chipped in 12 points and freshman Jazmine Davis had 11.
Washington's size advantage was evident, as they out-rebounded the Cougars 56-34 and had a season-high 9 blocks, while holding Houston to 27.7 percent (18-65) field-goal shooting as coach Kevin McGuff repeatedly encouraged his team to keep playing a suffocating defense.
"That's one of the things that we appreciate about [Coach Kevin] McGuff, that it seems like he's never satisfied," Williams said. "And that's one thing, as a player, you want to make your coach satisfied. So if he gives us stuff to work on, that's what we're going to do."
The Huskies have now won four straight, with an average victory margin of 22 points over that span. Washington has one more non-conference game remaining before turning its attention to the Pac-12 season. The Huskies welcome Southern this Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7 p.m.
"It's fun being 7-2, but we can't let that get to our heads, we have to still keep playing hard and take it one day at a time," Argens said.
Freshman Talia Walton saw her first action of the season since returning from knee surgery, scoring 2 points in five minutes of play. The game with UH was part of an action-packed day at Alaska Airlines Arena, featuring a doubleheader with the Husky men's basketball team.
