Washington Falls to Boise State 73-69 in Husky Classic Championship

Sunday, December 16

Seattle, WA

4:00 PM

University of Washington

7-4

Boise State

8-2

Boise State

Washington

Photo by: Red Box Pictures

Washington Falls to Boise State 73-69 in Husky Classic Championship

December 16, 2018 | Women's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

SEATTLE --- Amber Melgoza and Missy Peterson each had 17 points but despite a frantic comeback over the final minute including a potential go-ahead bucket wiped off by a questionable charge call, Washington lost a tough 73-69 decision to Boise State in the championship game of the 24th Husky Classic Sunday afternoon.

The Huskies saw their four-game winning streak snapped as they fall to 7-4 on the season and suffer their first home loss of the year. The Broncos improve to 8-2.

Melgoza put the team on her shoulders over a big final minute of the game as the Huskies looked to overcome a six-point deficit with 43 seconds left. She converted a three-point play with 38 seconds left and appeared to make a game-tying bucket and draw a foul with 12 seconds. However, it ended up being called an offensive foul—her fifth foul of the game. She finished by scoring nine points in the final quarter, adding five rebounds and five assists in the game.

Peterson had a solid night with 17 points and added nine rebounds for the Huskies a day after being held scoreless against Montana. She scored 10 of her points in a big 21-2 UW run which spanned the half. Hannah Johnson contributed eight points and nine rebounds.

Washington held a big 48-34 rebounding edge in the game including a 17-5 edge on the offensive glass leading to 16 second-chance points. But the big difference proved to be beyond the arc as the Broncos were able to connect on 14 three-pointers in the game including eight in the second half.

The teams opened the game going back-and-forth through the first two minutes with Boise State draining a pair of three-pointers and the Huskies getting it done inside. The Broncos used a quick 5-0 run as Washington missed layups on three-straight trips and led 11-6 with 6:24 left. The Huskies answered back with a pair of buckets to close back within one, but Boise State would score five straight to put the visitors back up by six with 2:40 left. After going back and forth, the Huskies would trail 23-17 after one.

After a Henson three-pointer would drop the deficit to five the Broncos rattled off an 8-0 run over a two-minute stretch to take a 33-20 lead at the 7:00 mark. Boise State closed out the run with a three-pointer—its fifth in the first 13 minutes. But it was all Washington the rest of the quarter as Peterson caught fire, igniting a 15-2 Husky run to close out the half and tie the game at 35-35 at intermission. She would score 10 of the first 11 points in the run including hitting a pair of three-pointers to help the Huskies claw back into the game. The Washington defense played a huge roll in the run, holding the Broncos to 1-of-10 shooting over the final seven minutes and forcing five turnovers.

Washington kept the run going to start the second half, scoring six-straight over the first two minutes of the quarter to go up 41-35 at the 7:52 mark. But Boise State would answer quickly with back-to-back three-pointers and a layup in the paint to go up 43-41 one minute later. After exchanging buckets, Boise State would use a 9-2 run thanks to a trio of three-pointers to go up 52-45 with 2:19 left. Moser got the Huskies back within four with a three-pointer from the top of the key at the 1:06 mark, but after a bucket by the Broncos, Moser hit a bucket at the buzzer to make it a 54-50 game after three.

Boise State stretched the lead back to seven with a three-pointer to open the scoring in the fourth. After a Melgoza free throw, Johnson got the Huskies back within four with a pair of strong offensive rebounds and finally got the putback to make it 57-53 with 7:13 to play. The Broncos hit another three-pointer to stretch the lead to seven and force a UW timeout with 6:14 left. Coming out of the timeout, Peterson converted a tough three-point play and after forcing a turnover, Johnson got a layup to make it a two-point game. Moser would connect on one of two free throws to make it a one-point game with 5:19 left.

Boise State came roaring back, hitting a three-pointer to begin a 5-0 run and take a 65-59 lead with 3:50 to play. The teams would exchange buckets until less than a minute remained when Melgoza made a tough and-one in transition to make it a three-point game at 70-67 with 38 seconds left. After Boise State made one of two from the line on the other end, Peterson hit a jumper from the elbow to make it a 71-69 game with 29.2 seconds left. Washington was able to get a steal on the ensuing inbounds pass, but despite looking like Melgoza was fouled hard by two different Broncos going to the hoop, no foul was called, and Boise State got the ball back.

The Broncos would miss both free throws on the other end and again it looked like Melgoza would be the hero, hitting a tough runner in the lane with 12 seconds left. But a shocking charge call wiped out the basket and chance for a go-ahead three-point play. Boise State would hit two free throws on the other end and hold on for the win.

Boise State's Riley Lupfer had a game-high 22 points thanks to a Husky Classic record seven three-pointers. Braydey Hodgins added 19 points for the Broncos.

Hodgins was named the Husky Classic, scoring a total of 34 points in two games. Lupfer and Melgoza were named to the all-tournament team along with Montana's Jace Henderson and Jess Kovatch of Saint Francis.

Washington has a tough stretch ahead, facing three top 10 teams over its next four games. First up on that list is a home date with No. 5 Mississippi State on Thursday at 7:00 p.m.