Weber State University Athletics
Weber State University
at Washington
WSU picks up first road loss; falls to Washington
12/22/2015 5:27:00 AM | Women's Basketball
SEATTLE, Wash. – Weber State women's basketball team fell 56-69 to the University of Washington Monday night picking up it's first road loss of the season.
"Washington is a great team," head coach Bethann Ord said. "Obviously we didn't want to lose but that team averages 81 points a game and we held them to 69. We knew it was going to be a tough game and we went to battle."
The game started off solid for the Wildcats as they had a 7-0 run right after tip off. Half way through the first quarter the Huskies took the lead for the first time with an 8-7 score. The Wildcats only scored seven points in the first quarter and Washington went on to end the quarter with a 20-7 lead over Weber State.
"We came out really hard punching them in teeth early but overall we fought back really well," Regina Okoye said. "We got down but just kept trying to cut the lead back."
Late in the second quarter, after a 12 minute scoring drought Deeshyra Thomas drained a three-pointer and the first half ended with the Wildcats trailing 16-39.
The second half proved to be the best for the Wildcats.
"At half time I challenged the girls to step up and that's what they did," Ord said. "They worked hard and I couldn't be more proud."
For most of the third quarter Weber State trailed by 20 but with four minutes to go in the quarter the Wildcats found some momentum and went on a 7-0 run. The two teams were even in scoring in the third quarter but the Wildcats still trailed 56-37 going into the fourth quarter.
In the middle of the fourth quarter the Wildcats brought the score within 11 points at 58-47. The smallest deficit of the second half, but they couldn't carry on as they fell 69-56.
The Wildcats were led by Okoye who dropped 23 points. This is Okoye's back-to-back game scoring over 20 points. Okoye also had the game high in rebounding with seven. Brittney Dunbar also scored in double figures with 10 points. Emily Drake also stepped up for the Wildcats with eight points including two from beyond the arc.
"I just got really focused, I know what I want and I just keep trying to the best for me and my teammates," Okoye said.
Thomas had three steals for the Wildcats and three assists. Dunbar also added three assists.
Weber State shot 36.2 percent from the field, 27.3 percent from the three and 50 percent from the free throw line. WSU had 14 turnovers and a total of 34 rebounds on the game. Washington shot 41.3 percent from the field, 45.5 percent from the three and 80 percent from the free throw line. The Huskies had 43 rebounds and 14 turnovers.
The Wildcats are now 7-3 on the season and will return home to take on Westminster Dec. 29 before going to Idaho State to start conference play on Jan. 2.
