Huskies Unable to Stop Boise State in 85-62 Loss

Thursday, December 7

Boise, ID

6:00 PM

University of Washington

4-4

Boise State

4-3

Washington

Boise State

December 07, 2017 | Women's Basketball

Box Score

BOISE, Idaho --- Boise State used a sharp-shooting first half to build a big lead as Washington saw its winning streak come to an end in a 85-62 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night at Taco Bell Arena in Boise.

The Huskies fall back to .500 at 4-4 on the season while Boise State improves to 4-3.

Amber Melgoza led the Huskies with 14 points and three assists while Mai-Loni Henson added 10 points. Freshman Fapou Semebene scored five points but had six rebounds, six steals, two assists and two blocks.

The Huskies struggled to stop the Broncos in the first half as the home team hit 64.3 percent from the field including hitting eight three pointers. Washington was able to hit 38.7 percent from the field through the first 20 minutes and trailed by 17 at halftime.

Washington was able to cut the lead to 10 on a pair of occasions in the third quarter but Boise State used a big fourth quarter to pull away for the victory.

Washington struggled out of the gate as Boise State opened by scoring the game's first eight points and extended the lead to 18-7 just under five minutes in. The Huskies used a quick 6-0 run to close the gap to four at 20-16 with 2:43 left in the quarter only to see the Broncos drain back-to-back three-pointers and take a 27-18 lead at the end of one.

The Broncos continued their hot shooting in the second quarter, opening with a 7-3 run to go up 13 just three minutes in. The teams traded baskets over the next five minutes, but Boise State closed the quarter on an 8-3 run to take a 51-34 lead into the locker room.

Boise State scored the opening basket of the third quarter but the Huskies answered with a 7-0 run to make it a 12-point game at 53-41 with 7:00 left. UW would cut it to 10 just a few minutes later but the Broncos used a 6-0 run to jump back up by 16. The Huskies slowly chipped away and pulled it back to within 10 at 66-56 with one minute left. The Broncos would hit a pair of free throws and the Huskies were unable to score on their final possession of the quarter as Boise State led 70-56 after three.

The Broncos would extend the lead back to 16 early in the fourth quarter, using a 6-2 run to go up 74-58 with 6:39 left. Washington would get back-to-back fastbreak buckets to cut the lead to 12 and had a chance to close within 10 again, stealing the inbounds pass with just over 3:45 left. But the Huskies could not convert the turnover and instead the Broncos got a steal at the top of the key and a wide open layup started an 11-0 run to close out the game.

Washington shot better in the second half, hitting nearly 40 percent in the second half but--thanks to the late run--the Broncos converted on 52 percent in the second half to finish at 58.2 percent for the game.

The Huskies forced 20 BSU turnovers but turned them into just 20 points. Boise State held a 38-23 edge on the glass and outscored the Huskies 40-18 in the paint.

The Broncos got a game high 17 points and 12 rebounds from Shalen Shaw, who added two blocks and two steals. Tess Amundsen added 13 points and Marta Hermida added 12 points and eight assists.

Washington returns home for its next game, hosting Grand Canyon University on Sunday at Noon.