Huskies open on the road against Marquette

The Washington women’s basketball team heads to the Midwest to open its season when it plays at Marquette today and at No. 11 Purdue (2-0) on Friday.

The Huskies have never played Marquette before and will face a team that returns four starters from a squad that reached the finals of last season’s WNIT.

In particular, the Washington frontcourt will be challenged as the Warriors have good size up front. Center Christina Quaye averaged 13 points and 6.2 rebounds last season. She teams with forwards Jasmine McCullough (9.9 points, 5.4 rebounds) and Danielle Kamm (8.6 points, 5.5 rebounds) in a unit that could give the UW duo of Andrea Plouffe and Breanne Watson some trouble.

The fourth returning starter is sophomore guard Krystal Ellis, who averaged 10.7 points last season.

The Huskies may be without senior guard and leading scorer Cameo Hicks, who injured her right knee in practice on Sunday and is listed as day-to-day. But overall Washington is getting healthier. Guard Cheri Craddock should be back from a sprained ankle, and freshman guard Sara Mosiman should be back from a stress reaction in her right foot. Forward Heidi McNeill, who has been out with stress issues in her left foot, is also listed as possible. Guard Dominique Banks is still out with stress fractures.

The Huskies will get a big challenge against Purdue, a team that has defeated Washington twice in the NCAA Tournament. The Boilermakers (2-0) will have already played three games before playing the UW, as they are playing in the Preseason NIT and will meet North Carolina State in the semifinals on Wednesday. Purdue reached the Sweet 16 last season and is ranked No. 11. It is led by senior Katie Gearlds, who averaged 17.5 points and five rebounds, and senior Erin Lawless, who averaged 15 points and six rebounds.

Washington doesn’t play its first home game until Nov. 25, when it plays host to Saint Louis on the first day of the Basketball Travelers Classic.