SEATTLE (Interstat) — Sayvia Sellers scored 24 points and the Washington Huskies used a dominant first quarter to set the tone in an 81-65 victory over the Penn State Lady Lions in a nonconference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at a sparsely attended Hec Edmundson Pavilion.

The Huskies, improving to 15-4 overall, never trailed after opening the game on a 9-0 run and led by double digits for the final 33 minutes. The Lady Lions fell to 7-13 with their fifth consecutive defeat.

Washington established control immediately, capitalizing on Penn State’s early shooting woes. The Huskies opened with a 21-11 first-quarter advantage, holding the Lady Lions to 4-of-17 shooting from the field in the period while forcing four turnovers. The most important sequence of the game came during this opening burst, as Washington’s defense repeatedly stifled Penn State at the rim. In one critical early possession, the Huskies blocked two consecutive Penn State shots — first by Hannah Stines and then by Yulia Grabovskaia — before Gracie Merkle finally converted an offensive rebound to get the Lady Lions on the board. That defensive intensity set a standard that persisted throughout the night.

Penn State found a brief rhythm in the second quarter, cutting what had been a 15-point deficit down to nine points on several occasions. A three-pointer from Vitoria Santana early in the period made it 23-14, and later, a layup by Shaelyn Steele brought the Lady Lions within 31-22. Each time, Washington had an answer, primarily through Sellers and forward Brynn McGaughy, who finished with 14 points. The Huskies closed the first half on a 7-2 spurt to take a 38-28 lead into the break, effectively halting Penn State’s momentum.

Any hope of a Lady Lions comeback was extinguished in the third quarter. Washington opened the second half with a 10-4 run, pushing its lead to 48-32 following a driving layup from Sellers. Penn State never got closer than 14 points the rest of the way. The Huskies outscored the Lady Lions 22-14 in the quarter, shooting 50% from the field while holding Penn State to 35%.

Sellers, a 5-foot-7 guard from Anchorage, Alaska, was the catalyst, adding three assists and a block in 33 minutes. She orchestrated the offense and consistently broke down the Penn State defense. McGaughy provided efficient interior scoring, and Avery Howell added 13 points and two assists. Grabovskaia, a 6-foot-5 center from Russia, contributed six points, two assists and a block, anchoring the paint defensively.

For Penn State, Merkle, a 6-foot-6 center from Mount Washington, Kentucky, was a bright spot, battling inside for a game-high 19 points on 9-of-15 shooting. She also recorded a block and a steal. Steele, from Ashland, Kentucky, added eight points and a game-high four assists. The Lady Lions struggled mightily from the free-throw line, making just 3 of 9 attempts, and were outrebounded 40-33 overall. Washington’s 16 offensive rebounds led to 16 second-chance points.

Statistically, the Huskies were more efficient, shooting 48.5% from the field compared to Penn State’s 41.8%. Washington also attempted 15 free throws, making 12, while Penn State managed only nine attempts. The Huskies scored 48 points in the paint and committed 12 turnovers, which Penn State converted into just 13 points. Conversely, Washington scored only four points off eight Lady Lions turnovers.

The game, organized by the Big Ten as part of its conference challenge slate, drew an announced crowd of 2,096. Washington entered as a heavy favorite, with pregame analytics giving the Huskies a 93.9% probability to win. The total score of 146 fell under the over/under line of 149.5.

Penn State continues its difficult road trip, traveling to face Oregon on Saturday. Washington heads east for a matchup at Rutgers on Sunday.