Sellers’ 30 Points Lead Huskies Past Phoenix in Fourth-Quarter Rally
SEATTLE (Interstat) — In a game defined by explosive runs and a dramatic final-minute collapse, the Washington Huskies rallied from a double-digit second-half deficit to defeat the Green Bay Phoenix 79-74 in a nonconference women’s basketball game Saturday at a raucous Hec Edmundson Pavilion.
The most important part of the game unfolded in the fourth quarter, where Washington’s defensive pressure and clutch shooting completely reversed the contest’s momentum. Green Bay, which had led for over 35 minutes and held a 65-56 advantage late in the third quarter, was held to just nine points in the final period. The Phoenix went scoreless for a critical stretch of over five minutes, missing seven consecutive field goal attempts as the Huskies mounted their decisive charge.
Washington sophomore guard Sayvia Sellers, the game’s undisputed star, catalyzed the comeback. After Green Bay’s Carley Duffney hit a layup to cut the Washington lead to 71-68 with 7:43 remaining, Sellers responded with a cold-blooded three-pointer on the next possession. She then drew a foul and hit a free throw, part of her game-high 30-point performance. The Huskies’ defense, which recorded eight steals and six blocks, forced Green Bay into a critical shot-clock violation and several rushed attempts down the stretch.
The Huskies sealed the victory at the free-throw line in the final seconds. With Washington leading 78-74 and 12 seconds left, Green Bay’s Jenna Guyer fouled Washington’s 6-foot-5 center Yulia Grabovskaia. The freshman from Russia calmly sank the first free throw to make it a two-possession game, effectively clinching the win before a missed second attempt. A desperation three-pointer by Guyer at the buzzer was off the mark.
The game began at a frenetic offensive pace. Green Bay shot a blistering 60% from the field in the first quarter, led by Meghan Schultz and Guyer, to take a 23-20 lead. The Phoenix extended their lead to 42-40 at halftime despite Sellers’ 15 first-half points for Washington. Green Bay’s offensive efficiency peaked in the third quarter, where they again scored 23 points, largely through the interior work of Guyer and the playmaking of point guard Kamy Peppler, who finished with nine assists.
Washington’s offensive identity, however, was built from the perimeter. The Huskies shot 14 for 29 from three-point range, a 48.3% clip that ultimately offset Green Bay’s superior two-point efficiency. Sellers was 6 for 12 from beyond the arc, while Elle Ladine and Hannah Stines combined for five more triples. When the Huskies needed key baskets during their fourth-quarter surge, they consistently came from long distance or drives created by spaced-floor offense.
Beyond Sellers’ 30 points, Washington received a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds from forward Avery Howell, who also contributed two blocks. Grabovskaia provided a unique stat line of 10 points, six rebounds and six assists off the bench. For Green Bay, Guyer led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds. Maddy Skorupski added 14 points and eight rebounds, while Schultz and Duffney each chipped in 13 points.
The victory improved Washington’s record to 9-1, bouncing back from its first loss of the season at Southern California the previous weekend. Green Bay, which had won three straight coming into Seattle, fell to 8-4. The Phoenix will look to regroup on the road at Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 22. Washington faces a quick turnaround with a tough road test at Stanford on Dec. 19.