Sellers' Historic Triple-Double Powers No. 16 Washington Past UC San Diego, 79-63
Sayvia Sellers recorded the third triple-double in program history as No. 16 Washington defeated UC San Diego 79-63. Despite a slow start, the Huskies showcased their depth, defensive versatility and promising young talent in the season opener.
The No. 16 Washington Huskies women's basketball team opened its season with a 79-63 victory over UC San Diego, led by superstar guard Sayvia Sellers, who recorded just the third triple-double in program history.
Despite entering as 28-point favorites, the Huskies struggled to get stops early and went into halftime tied at 31. Much of that can be attributed to a well-coached UC San Diego team that caught fire from beyond the arc. The Tritons finished 13-for-39 (33.3%) from deep, keeping the game closer than expected.
Washington opened the season with a strong defensive possession that ended in a missed shot and a rebound by Brynn McGaughy. The sophomore then played point-forward, dribbling up the court before finding a wide-open Avery Howell (22 points, seven rebounds) for a corner 3-pointer that gave the Huskies an early 3-0 lead.
It was a fitting way to start the season considering how last year ended for Howell, who drilled seven 3-pointers against South Dakota State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, tied for the third-most in a single women's tournament game.
Facing a UC San Diego program that has reached the NCAA Tournament in each of the past two seasons, the Huskies started slowly but shook off the rust in the second half, outscoring the Tritons 48-32 to secure their first win of the season.
Here are some takeaways from Washington's season-opening victory:
Sayvia Sellers' All-American Opener
The Naismith Player of the Year preseason watch list was released recently, featuring two Huskies — Avery Howell and Sayvia Sellers. Both showed why during Monday's game.
Sellers, coming off a season in which she scored the eighth-most points in Washington single-season history, recorded 25 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, one steal, and one block in a historic performance. She became just the third Husky to record a triple-double, joining program legends Margaret Nielson (1978) and Chantel Osahor (2016) in an exclusive club.
Sellers played 33 minutes before being subbed out with four minutes remaining. Her workload suggests that in close games, the Huskies may continue to rely heavily on their star guard, potentially pushing her toward 40 minutes a night.
