Huskies Fall to Fordham, 65-57 in Gulf Coast Semifinals

Saturday, November 24

Estero, FL

2:00 PM

University of Washington

3-2

Fordham

4-2

Washington

Fordham

November 24, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

ESTERO, Fla. --- Amber Melgoza recorded second 20-point game of the season, scoring 21 points while Darcy Rees scored in double-figures, but turnovers ended up costing Washington in a 65-57 loss to Fordham Saturday night in the semifinals of the 2018 Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena in Estero, Florida.

The Huskies (3-2) shot 50 percent from the field in the game but committed 21 turnovers which led to 20 points for the Rams (4-2). Despite working inside throughout much of the game, Washington was without a free throw attempt in the contest as Fordham was whistled for just 10 fouls—three in final minute of the game. While the rebounds totals were close, Fordham held a sizable edge on the offensive glass, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds leading to 14 second-chance points.

Washington plays in the 3rd/4th place game on Sunday at 2:00 pm PT (5:00 pm local time), taking on Michigan, which lost 69-52 to No. 11 Texas in the other semifinal on Saturday night.

Melgoza scored in double-figures for the 18th-straight game, hitting 9-of-20 from the field for 21 points—12 of which came in the second half. Rees did her damage in the second half, scoring all her points over the final 20 minutes and finishing with 10 points on 5-of-7 shooting while making her first collegiate start. Missy Peterson added nine points, four rebounds and a block in 31 minutes.

Washington opened the game strong, outscoring Fordham 11-3 through the first three minutes of the game. Missy Peterson, Amber Melgoza and Jenna Moser drained three-pointers to give the Huskies their first nine points with Peterson hitting a running layup to make it an eight-point game at the 7:15 mark. The Rams closed the gap as the Huskies went quiet from the field over the next four minutes. Fordham used an 8-0 run over that stretch to take a 14-13 lead with 2:26 left. Melgoza ended the run with a tough pull-up jumper which keyed a 7-1 UW run to take back the lead at 20-15 with less than 30 seconds left. But Fordham would get an offensive rebound and bucket at the buzzer to make it a three-point game after one.

Fordham opened the scoring in the second quarter and the teams exchanged buckets through the first five minutes, but the Huskies refused to give up the lead, holding a 24-23 lead at the media timeout. One minute later, the Rams took the lead back on a deep three-pointer to go up 26-24 with 3:55 left. Melgoza immediately responded with a tough layup on the other end to tie the game back up at the 3:45 mark. But Fordham would close out the half on a 5-0 run as the Huskies went quiet from the field and UW trailed 31-26 at the half. After hitting 8-of-13 from the field in the first quarter, the Huskies connected on just 3-of-11 from the field in the second quarter and failed to score over the final 3:43 of the half. Washington also committed 10 turnovers leading to 13 Fordham points.

The Huskies closed to within three twice in the early going of the second half, but the Rams answered back with a quick 5-0 run to go up 38-30 and force an early timeout just two minutes in. Fordham would keep the run going with a putback to take a 10-point lead, but Melgoza ended the run with a tough drive and high bank to pull the Huskies back within eight with 6:29 left. Neither team could find the bucket for the next two minutes until Fordham hit a three off an offensive rebound to take an 11-point lead. Khayla Rooks answered back with a three on the other end to again pull within eight. But Fordham took advantage of four-straight Husky turnovers to put together a quick 5-0 run and go up 50-37 after three quarters.

Rees opened the fourth with a bucket and Peterson added a bank shot in transition as Washington cut the deficit to nine at 50-41 three minutes into the quarter. Fordham would score its first two points from the free throw line with 6:29 left and the teams exchanged buckets until Melgoza drained a three to cut the lead to eight at 56-48 with 4:39 to play. Fordham still led by 10 after a layup with 1:25 left when Melgoza cut it back to seven with a deep three with 1:11 left. Fordham made one free throw on its next possession and Rees hit a layup with 43 seconds left to make it a six-point game at 63-57. But the Huskies could get no closer as Fordham hit free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.