University of Washington
South Dakota
UW Storms Back Behind Walton, Downs South Dakota
December 13, 2015 | Women's Basketball
Box Score
VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota had won 18-straight at the DakotaDome and made it look like they would make it 19 early on, building a double-digit lead in the opening minutes. Washington was not to be denied, however, slowly getting back in the game and then exploding in the fourth quarter to pull away and win it, 77-64.
The win improves Washington to 7-2 on the season with a big road win in a tough place to play. Talia Walton was the story for the Dawgs, scoring 29 points on 10-16 shooting, including 6-9 from 3-point range. She added 11 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and a steal.
The Huskies trailed at the half, but outscored South Dakota 49-31 after the break to pull away with the impressive victory. Kelsey Plum added 25 points, while Alexus Atchley played a career-high 30 minutes off the bench and scored a career-best seven.
The first quarter was nearly a disaster for the Dawgs as after starting with a 5-0 lead, Washington allowed a 19-0 run from South Dakota. Trailing by 14 midway through the quarter, Plum knocked down a 3-pointer to end damage. The Huskies then settled in and finished out the first quarter, trailing 21-12. Washington shot just 4-17 in the quarter, while the Coyotes were 8-17.
The Dawgs responded with a good second quarter to get back in the game. Walton's 3-point play with 3:01 left in the half tied the game at 28-28, before the Coyotes closed on a 5-0 run to take a 33-28 margin to the half. Walton led all scorers with 13 points at the break, but the Dawgs shot just 10-32 from the floor and 3-14 from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Huskies began their surge to retake the lead in the third quarter as they tied it at 36-36 with 6:45 to play in the period. South Dakota responded and would not relinquish the lead until the 3:13 mark when Chantel Osahor finished a 3-point play. Washington would extend the lead to as many as four in the period, but the Coyotes always responded to tie it, as the Dawgs had just a narrow 52-50 lead heading to the final frame.
This is when the Washington grabbed ahold of the game for good, scoring the quarter's first 12 points to build a 64-50 lead. Walton and Plum exchanged offensive outputs, each scoring five points during the run, while Brianna Ruiz punctuated it with a runner as the Huskies would lead by double-digits the rest of the way.
After a slow start, the Dawgs finished by shooting 47.5 precent (29-61), including 65.5 percent in the second half (19-29). Washington made eight 3-pointers for the game, but were a deadly 5-7 from beyond the arc after the break. The Huskies totaled a slight edge on the glass, 38-37, led by 11 from Walton, but also seven each from Plum and Osahor.
Next up for the Dawgs is a return to Alaska Airlines Arena for two games in three days next weekend. Washington hosts UC Riverside on Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m., followed by Weber State on Monday, Dec. 21, also at 7 p.m. Both games will be webcast and radio only and will conclude the non-conference slate for the Huskies.
