Balanced Attack Leads Huskies to 69-54 Win Over Montana

Saturday, December 15

Seattle, WA

1:00 PM

University of Washington

7-3

Montana

4-4

Montana

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

December 15, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Coach Wynn Post-Game Interview

SEATTLE --- Washington used a big second-half to overcome a rough shooting first half en route to a 69-54 victory over Montana in the first game of the 24th Husky Classic at Alaska Airlines Arena on Saturday.

The Huskies pick up their fourth-straight win to move to 7-3 on the season—matching their win total from last season. Washington also remains a perfect 5-0 at home and is now 24-0 all-time in first-round games at the Husky Classic. Montana falls to 4-4 on the season.

Washington did a solid job spreading around the offense as four players reached double-figures in the contest. Amber Melgoza led the way with 15 points, adding a game-high four steals while Hannah Johnson scored 13 points and pulled down eight rebounds off the bench. Haley Van Dyke and Mai-Loni Henson each added 11 points with Van Dyke recording eight rebounds and four assists as well.

Gabi Herington was the lone Montana player in double-figures, scoring 13 points with a team-high five rebounds and two steals.

Washington was strong on the boards, out-rebounding Montana 46-32 including a 20-7 edge on the offensive glass. The Huskies also held a commanding 40-17 edge in bench points with the UW bench outscoring the starters 40-29.

After Montana scored the first points of the game, Washington responded by scoring the next 13 points over the next seven minutes to take a commanding 13-2 lead. Melgoza opened the game with back-to-back three-pointers for the Huskies, who jumped out to a quick 6-2 lead just 90 seconds into the game. Washington's defense forced six turnovers and held Montana to 0-of-8 shooting over its long run. But the Grizzlies would break the 13-0 run by outscoring the Huskies 5-0 over the final two minutes as UW led 15-7 after one.

Washington opened the second quarter with buckets on two of its first three possessions to stretch the lead back to 12 at 19-7 just 1:27 in. With the Huskies leading by 10 three minutes later, Montana used a quick 5-2 run to make it a seven-point game at 25-18 at the 4:09 mark. The team would exchange buckets over the final minutes of the quarter as the Huskies held a 27-20 lead after one half.

The Grizzlies would get the first points of the third quarter with a pair of free throws, cutting the Husky lead to five one minute in. Haley Van Dyke would get a bucket for the Huskies at the 7:35 mark, then drained a three on the next possession to stretch the lead back to 10 at 32-22. Montana closed back to within six on back-to-back buckets and—after the media timeout—hit a free throw to make it a 36-31 game with 4:45 left in the quarter.

But Washington came roaring back, using an 8-0 run over the next two minutes to quickly go back up 44-31 with 2:52 left. Mai-Loni Henson drained a three to get the run going, followed by a steal and layup by Watkins and a three-point play by Johnson. Montana would get back to within single-digits with a 5-1 run but the Huskies would hold a 49-38 lead after three quarters.

After a big defensive stop to open the fourth, Henson drained a three-pointer took a 52-38. But the Grizzlies answered with a three of their own, then got an easy layup to cut it back to nine with 8:00 left. But the Huskies again clamped down on defense and used a 7-9 But Henson was there again, hitting a three followed by a Johnson put back to make it a 55-43 game with 7:15 left. After the media timeout, the Huskies broke game open as Melgoza drained a three-pointer followed by a three-point play by Moser to key 6-0 run over the next minute to give UW a 65-46 lead.

Washington plays the winner of the game between Boise State and Saint Francis in the Husky Classic Championship game on Sunday at 4:00 p.m. Montana faces the loser of the game in the consolation game at 1:00 p.m.