University of Washington
Stanford
Still Dancing: Dawgs Upset #11 Stanford
March 05, 2016 | Women's Basketball
Box Score | Highlights | Pac-12 Net Recap | Plum Interview |
SEATTLE – March madness is alive and kicking at KeyArena as the Huskies upset No. 11 Stanford, 77-66, in the quarterfinal of the Pac-12 Tournament. Kelsey Plum scored 29 points to become Washington's all-time leading scorer and lead the Dawgs to the big win.
Plum led four Huskies in double figures as Talia Walton added 19, including the clinching 3-pointer, while Katie Collier had 13 and Alexus Atchley, 10. Chantel Osahor scored just two points, but pulled down 16 rebounds one night after having 18 against Colorado.
Plum's 29 points gives her 2,282 for her career, surpassing Jazmine Davis for the school record. Amazingly, the junior guard needed less than three full seasons to set the new standard at Washington. The mark is also now sixth in Pac-12 history as she continues her assault on the conference record of 2,737 points by Chiney Ogwumike of Stanford.
The win was the first time that Washington has won two games in their Pac-12 Tournament history. It was also the first time they'll advance to a semifinal since 2003. It also was the first time Stanford failed to advance to the semifinals.
The Dawgs used a unique strategy, not making a substitution until the fourth quarter. Only Osahor picking up her fourth foul caused head coach Mike Neighbors to go to his bench. Mathilde Gilling came in to play four minutes, otherwise the Husky starters went the full 40 minutes each.
The Huskies came out feeling the KeyArena crowd, building a 20-14 lead at the end of one quarter. Washington made 4-7 from 3-point range in the opening 10 minutes, including a pair from Plum. The Dawgs extended the margin in the second, taking a 14-point lead, before the Cardinal scored just before the half. Still, Washington led 37-25 at the break behind 16 points from Plum, nine from Walton and 10 rebounds from Osahor.
Washington pushed the lead to as many as 16 in the third quarter and led 56-45 heading to the fourth. The Cardinal would make their run midway through the period, cutting the lead to two with 2:43 to play. Collier split to free throws to get the lead to three, before Walton's massive 3-pointer at the end of a shot clock with 23 seconds left. That shot put the Dawgs up six and after two free throws, Washington prevailed, 73-65.
It is a statement win for the Dawgs who were already firmly in the NCAA Tournament, but should see their seed improve with a second win on the season over a team with a RPI currently in the top-10.
The Huskies shot 46.6 percent for the game, including 8-19 from 3-point range. Washington won the battle on the glass 37-31 as Walton added seven boards and Collier had five to go with the monster night from Osahor.
The win means the Dawgs advance to face top-seeded and No. 8-ranked Oregon State in the semifinal on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. The Beavers took the only meeting earlier this season at Alaska Airlines Arena, but Saturday night should provide an explosive atmosphere at KeyArena.
