Washington Huskies Women’s Basketball Vaults into Top 10
By Ben Renner
Washington Huskies Women’s basketball moved up to number eight in the AP top-25 poll after big wins over USC and UCLA last week.
The Washington Huskies moved into the top ten after convincing wins over two powerful California schools. In the midst of what will be an epic Pac-12 season in women’s basketball this year, the Huskies (16-2, 4-1) find themselves the highest of the Pac in the AP poll at eighth, topping Oregon State (no. 10), Stanford (no.13), UCLA (no. 17), Arizona State (no. 19), and Cal (no. 24).
It’s a murderer’s row in the Pac-12 this year for the Washington Huskies’ women’s team. But back-to-back double-digit wins over USC and UCLA show they are ready for the competition.
Kelsey Plum dropped 39 points on UCLA Monday, and the Kemp to her Payton, the Pippen to her Jordan, Chantel Osahor put up 19 points, 16 rebounds, and five assists for the Huskies.
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The dynamic inside-outside duo of Osahor and Plum aren’t the only ways the Washington Huskies beat opponents. This is a well-coached team by Mike Neighbors that takes defense seriously as a team effort. In their win over UCLA, the Huskies held star guard Jordin Canada to 16 points on only 4 of 16 shooting.
Their latest rash of beating quality Pac-12 opponents has them in the top ten again this week. Their only losses on the year both on the road, to number 1 ranked Notre Dame and no. 22 Oregon State. After their home wins over the Southern California schools, they head out on the road to take on Arizona (Friday 7pm) and no. 19 Arizona State (Sunday 5pm).
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Even for a team as talented as the Washington Huskies are this year, their conference schedule can’t get much more difficult, featuring several teams in the top-25. If they can survive, they’ll be as battle-tested as they can get ahead of the NCAA Tournament in March.