University of Washington
Colorado
Huskies Rout Colorado On Senior Day
February 28, 2016 | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE – The Huskies sent their seniors off in fashion, routing Colorado in the regular season finale, 68-47. The victory got the Dawgs to the 20-win plateau for the fifth-straight year and clinched fifth place in the Pac-12.
After the game seniors Alexus Atchley, Mathilde Gilling and Talia Walton were honored for their contributions to the program, but each played key roles in their 84th win in their four seasons at Washington.
Atchley scored 11 points on the night, knocking down three 3-pointers against the school where she spent her freshman season. Walton added 10 points and nine rebounds, punctuating a career where she ranks in the top-10 all-time in scoring and rebounding. Finally, Gilling added seven points on 7-10 shooting from the foul line, career-highs in both makes and attempts.
The 20 wins for a fifth-straight year are topped by only one other stretch in Washington women's basketball history. The 1984-85 through 1990-91 teams had seven-straight 20-win seasons.
Kelsey Plum paced the Dawgs on Saturday afternoon with 18 points, but it was a balanced night as four Dawgs finished in double figures as Katie Collier scored 11 to join Plum, Atchley and Walton. Gilling and Chantel Osahor added seven apiece as the Dawgs shot 33.3 percent (20-60) for the game, but got to the line 29 times and made 22 free throws.
Defensively, the Huskies were exceptional, holding Colorado to 19-62 shooting (30.6 percent) and forcing 20 turnovers.
Washington stormed to a big early lead, scoring the first 12 points of the game and holding Colorado scoreless until the 4:06 mark of the first quarter. Plum and Osahor each hit 3-pointers during the run with the duo combining for a great pick and pop on Osahor's 3-ball. The Buffaloes started 0-8 from the field and trailed 19-6 at the end of one after Atchley found Collier on a backcut in the final seconds.
The Huskies extended the lead to 32-16 at the break as Plum had a pair of 3-point plays in the final moments of the half. The last came with 6.9 seconds to go with the Dawgs taking the ball out under their own hoop. Plum went the length of the floor with her dribble, took the contact and finished with just over a second left. For the half, Plum had 13, but it was the Husky defense holding the Buffaloes to just 20 percent shooting (6-30) and forcing 11 turnovers that was the difference.
In the second half, Washington pushed the lead to as many as 29 points with a 57-29 margin with 2:21 remaining in the third quarter. The Huskies continually got to the foul line, while Colorado took just six free throws all game.
The result was never in doubt in the fourth quarter, which allowed head coach Mike Neighbors to sub out his senior one by one to loud ovations from the crowd. The class has played an instrumental role in the transformation of the Washington program over the past several years to where 20 wins and a NCAA Tournament berth in the expectation.
The win clinches the No. 5 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament for the Dawgs, which begins Thursday, March 3, at KeyArena. The bracket with game times has yet to be announced, but the Huskies know they will get a rematch with Colorado who has clinched the No. 12 seed in the tournament.
