The Washington Huskies women’s basketball team defeated South Dakota State 72-54 on March 20 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking their first March Madness win since the 2016-17 season.
This victory is significant for the Huskies as it advances them to the next round of the tournament and highlights a strong performance after several years without a tournament win.
Avery Howell led Washington with an impressive showing, scoring 30 points, grabbing nine rebounds, and making a career-high seven three-pointers. Her seven made shots from beyond the arc tie her for third most in a single game by a player in March Madness. Howell became the first Husky since Kelsey Plum to score at least 30 points in an NCAA Tournament game. In addition to Howell’s performance, Brynn McGaughy contributed 14 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Both players finished in double figures for the fifth time in six games.
Sayvia Sellers matched her career-high with ten assists while also recording five rebounds, three steals, and a block. She is now just three assists shy of matching the most assists in a season by a Husky since Plum’s record-setting year. The Huskies set a new season-high with assists on 21 of their 27 field goals. Hannah Stines and Elle Ladine each added four assists.
Washington’s defense forced South Dakota State into 18 turnovers—the fourth-most this season for the Jackrabbits—and collected thirteen steals. Sellers and Yulia Grabovskaia led with three steals each. The Huskies also dominated on the boards, outrebounding their opponent forty to twenty-five and converting fourteen offensive rebounds into fourteen second-chance points.
With this win, Washington (22-10) will face No. 3 seed TCU on Sunday in the Round of 32 at a time yet to be determined.
