SEATTLE — The Washington women’s basketball team (12-2, 2-1 Big Ten) took down No. 6 Michigan (11-2, 2-1 Big Ten) 64-52 on Thursday afternoon in front of an electric Alaska Airlines Arena crowd.
The Huskies locked down the Wolverines defensively, limiting the visiting team to 20-for-60 shooting from the field (33.3%) and 3-for-14 from behind the 3-point line (21.4%). Michigan recorded just three assists.
Washington was equally impressive on the glass, outrebounding the visiting side 43 to 27.
Thursday marked the fourth straight win for the Huskies at home against the Wolverines, and Washington’s highest-ranked Big Ten win since joining the conference.
Avery Howell was prolific from the start of Thursday’s game, recording two early layups to help Washington jump to an early 8-0 run. She didn’t look back from there, recording a double-double before the first half came to a close and finishing the afternoon with 22 points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
Sayvia Sellers was the second Husky in double figures, recording 11 points with three steals. The junior had a few statement plays on both ends of the floor, beginning with a thunderous block on Michigan’s second offensive possession to keep them off the board. Then, late in the fourth quarter, she stretched the lead to 14 with a big 3-pointer from the corner.
Yulia Grabovskaia kept increasing Washington’s rebounding margin, hauling in nine rebounds to complement her six points and two blocks.
Late in the second quarter, Hannah Stines hit a huge 3-pointer from the top of the key to stretch the Huskies’ lead to double digits and force a Michigan timeout. Washington tacked on another two buckets on the other side to send them into halftime up 31 to 18.
Stines finished the game leading the Huskies with five assists. Elle Ladine added four more assists and another nine points.
Up next, Washington has another ranked opponent arrive in Seattle, with the Huskies taking on No. 24 Michigan State at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8 in Alaska Airlines Arena.
