From the Amazon #1 Best Selling Author (ModernMillions.ai), R. Kenner French
Washington did not need a hot shooting night to beat Pacific. The Huskies collected 16 steals and made 27 free throws in a 75–54 home victory Thursday, November 5, at Alaska Airlines Arena, moving to 2–0. That is the useful takeaway: UW found enough offense outside its jump shots to turn a competitive game into a comfortable finish.
UW Athletic Communications’ official recap, published November 5, credited Washington’s defensive pressure and downhill attack. The official box score supports that explanation, but it also shows why the final margin should not erase the early difficulty.
Pressure changed the second quarter
Pacific led 14–12 after the first quarter. Washington made only four of its first 17 shots, and the Tigers were still ahead 22–20 during the second. This was not a game the Huskies controlled from the opening possession.
Then the possessions changed. The official play-by-play records Devin Coppinger stealing the ball and scoring a layup, followed by an Avery Howell steal that led to her three-pointer. Washington went from trailing to leading 26–22 across that sequence.
Pacific’s own official recap, also published November 5, described Washington’s 12–2 run to close the half. UW went into the break ahead 32–24. Those defensive plays mattered because they produced scoring opportunities while the half-court shooting was still uneven.
Coppinger finished with 11 points and five steals. Howell and Sayvia Sellers added three steals apiece. Washington forced 21 turnovers and recorded 21 points off turnovers, along with 20 fast-break points. Those last two categories can overlap; they should not be added together as separate scoring totals.
The free-throw line did heavy work
Washington and Pacific each made 20 field goals. The Huskies shot 37.7% overall and went 8-for-25 from three. That is not a shooting line that, by itself, explains a 21-point win.
The bigger separation came at the stripe. UW made 27 of 32 free throws; Pacific made eight of 13. Washington’s ability to get there and convert gave it a scoring advantage that survived the missed jumpers.
The third quarter makes that especially clear. The Huskies made only three field goals but went 13-for-14 on free throws, scoring 21 points in the period. They entered the fourth ahead 53–44, then outscored Pacific 22–10 to finish.
For readers using our box-score shooting-efficiency guide, this is a good reminder to look beyond the headline field-goal percentage. Free throws are part of the offense, not an afterthought.
Enough contributors, still room to improve
Sellers led Washington with 17 points and seven assists. Howell supplied 15 points and seven rebounds. Brynn McGaughy matched Coppinger’s 11 points and added six rebounds and two blocks. Four double-figure scorers gave UW more than one way to keep possessions productive.
The encouraging part is the response, not a claim that every problem is solved. Washington recovered from a slow start and finished decisively. One November game does not establish how consistently this group will defend or generate free throws against different opponents.
Next on the schedule is Cal State Bakersfield at home Thursday, November 12, at 7 p.m. Fans heading to the arena can review our updated Husky basketball screening guide. The basketball question is straightforward: can UW keep the pressure and improve the shooting, rather than needing one to rescue the other?
Cover photograph is illustrative basketball photography, not an image of the named player or the reported game.