University of Washington
Colorado
Washington Wins Wild One In Boulder
January 02, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Highlights |
BOULDER, Colo. – Washington (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12) earned another impressive conference road win, downing Colorado (5-7, 0-1), 76-74. The hot-shooting Huskies built a big first-half lead and then overcame a huge Colorado comeback to hang on for the victory.
The Dawgs led by as many as 20 in the first half, before Colorado put up a 35-point third quarter to take a lead. The Buffaloes led by as many as five in the fourth quarter, before the Huskies took care of business down the stretch. Kelsey Plum calmly sunk two free throws with 13 seconds left to take the final lead of the game.
Plum made the big final free throws, but it was Chantel Osahor that came up big for Washington. The junior post player scored a career-best 24 points, while adding 11 rebounds and two assists. After making three 3-pointers in the first half, she was nearly unstoppable in the post down the stretch. Osahor had three separate 3-point plays and a couple more buckets down low to hold off the Colorado comeback.
Talia Walton also scored 24 points, making 9-17 from the floor, while Plum added 18 and Mathilde Gilling scored a career-best 10 off the bench.
After a cold-shooting opening couple of minutes, the Huskies got things going after the first media timeout. Trailing 7-5, the Dawgs reeled off a 13-0 run with 3-pointers from Walton and Osahor to take a commanding lead. The Huskies led 22-11 after the first quarter as Walton had eight on 3-3 shooting to lead the way.
The Dawgs kept it going in the second quarter as Walton and Osahor stayed hot from long range. The Huskies finished the half 7-15 from 3-point range as Walton made four and Osahor three. Both Dawgs had 14 points at the break as the Huskies led by as many as 20. Overall, Washington shot 52.9 percent in the half to lead 46-28.
The third quarter belonged to Colorado as the Buffaloes came all the way back. Washington trailed 63-62 after Colorado put up 35 points in the quarter. At one point, the Buffaloes went on a 14-0 run and had a jumper in the final seconds gave them their first lead since the opening minutes. The Huskies did get more strong play from Osahor as she went to work in the post to keep the Dawgs in it.
Colorado extended the lead to as many as five early in the fourth quarter, before the Dawgs got back in it. Washington regained the lead at the 4:22 mark when Plum drove and scored. Colorado would respond and grab the lead, before Osahor had another bucket in the post and the Dawgs would not trail again.
Walton scored twice in the final minutes to give the Huskies a three-point lead, before the Buffaloes tied it with a 3-pointer with 57 seconds to play. After the teams traded turnovers, Plum drove and was fouled, setting up the clutch free throws. Plum swished both and was 6-6 from the line for the game.
Colorado had one last chance, but a long 3-pointer was missed and the follow was also off the mark, before grabbed her 11th and final rebound to clinch the victory.
The Huskies finished by shooting 46.7 percent (28-60) and did not make a 3-pointer in the second half. The Dawgs held Colorado to 43.7 percent (31-71) shooting and overcame being outrebounded, 40-34.
The Dawgs will remain in the Rocky Mountains, traveling to Salt Lake City to face Utah on Monday at 5 p.m. The Dawgs will look to make it three-straight road wins, before returning home for a stretch of five-straight at Alaska Airlines Arena.
