Washington surprises No. 18 Utah to close regular season
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Lauren Schwartz scored 18 points, Sayvia Sellers added 13 and Washington defeated No. 18 Utah 62-47 on Saturday, the final day of the regular season for the Pac-12 Conference.
Dalayah Daniels had 12 points and nine rebounds and Hannah Stines scored 11 points for the Huskies (16-13, 6-12), who got all of their scoring from the starting five.
Maty Wilke led Utah (21-9, 11-7) with 17 points and Alissa Pili had 10 rebounds. Utah's Dasia Young, with four points, was the only reserve to score for either team.
Washington outshot Utah 49%-32% through the first three quarters and led 46-34 heading to the fourth. The Huskies made 5 of 6 shots, including three in a row by Daniels, to push their lead to 57-38 with 5 1/2 minutes remaining. The Huskies made only two shots the rest of the way but still finished at 51%.
The Utes' comeback effort was hindered by 5-for-27 3-point shooting and they shot 32% overall. The Huskies were an efficient 7 of 13 from 3-point distance. Washington made only one free throw as Schwartz went 1 for 2 from the line.
Schwartz scored eight points in the first 6-plus minutes of the game and the Huskies led 13-6 after her layup with 3:40 remaining. Washington led 17-16 at the end of the first quarter and never trailed in the game. The Huskies held Utah to five points in the second quarter and led 27-21 at the break.
Utah had won four of five, but Saturday's loss puts the Utes in danger of missing out on a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Utes fell 1/2 game out of fourth place, with Colorado (11-6) and Oregon State (11-6) both playing later in the day.
Washington closed out the regular season by winning three of four and will be seeded either ninth or 10th in the Pac-12 Tournament that begins Wednesday in Las Vegas.
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