The undefeated Huskies have faced various different teams in their current stretch at Alaska Airlines Arena; and that could be what the team needs to navigate the Big Ten.
SEATTLE — The No. 22 Washington Huskies women's basketball team survived a brief scare from the UC San Diego Tritons on Friday.
Washington erased a double-digit first quarter deficit to win 67-50 and improve to 7-0 season. In the process, the Huskies have proved that they're ready for Big Ten action.
The Dawgs' game against the Tritons was the fourth of a five-game homestand, which will conclude against San Jose State at 6 p.m. PT on Dec. 1 at Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle.
Over the course of that stretch, Washington has faced a plethora of different styles. The Huskies have faced the physical size and length of Fresno State, the quick and agile guards of Southern University and the stout defensive system of UC San Diego.
Since Washington began its home stretch against Fresno State on Nov. 19, several players have stepped up and established the depth the Huskies have on their roster.
Junior guard Sayvia Sellers, sophomore guard Avery Howell and freshman forward Brynn McGaughy have all scored in double-digits multiple times. Senior guard Hannah Stines posted a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds against Vermont on Nov. 23.
Washington has also gotten healthier.
All-conference senior guard Elle Ladine made her season debut against the Tritons after missing the first six games of the season with an undisclosed injury.
Ladine put up nine points in 15 minutes on 4-for-8 shooting.
"We hoped that's what we had in our non-conference (schedule)," Head coach Tina Langley said in a postgame interview Sunday. "You want to see teams that play differently. We've seen our pressing, physical teams and we've seen system-oriented. So it's been a lot of growth there. Every time we take the floor, we want to be better. Each team's pushed us to be better in something different, which we really love. ... So grateful for the way (the fans) are been coming out."
The Huskies have responded well to everything the opposition has thrown at them. And it will be interesting to see as they get into Big Ten play with a higher level of talent and depth.
But so far, Washington seems more than up to the challenge.
The Huskies will close out their current homestretch in the aforementioned game against San Jose State and will then play No. 18 Southern California (USC) at 5 p.m. PT on Dec. 7 in Los Angeles.
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