UW says let’s get physical

By John Sleeper

Herald Writer

SEATTLE – It remains a burr in the saddle of the University of Washington women’s basketball team.

The Huskies’ 83-69 defeat Jan. 12 to Arizona was more than a setback in the Pacific-10 Conference. It was more than the completion of a winless road trip against the Arizona schools.

It was a revelation of just how bad Washington can be if it fails to bring its best game. After leading 34-33 at halftime, the Huskies came out flat for the second half. The Wildcats beat the Huskies down the floor. They beat them on the boards. They were more physical. Faster. They wanted it more.

In every area the Huskies take pride in, Arizona beat them.

“I remember what went on,” said UW guard Giuliana Mendiola, named the Pac-10 Player of the Week on Monday. “We’re definitely up for them now.”

Recent games suggest the Huskies (13-8, 8-4 Pac-10) are definitely up. Washington’s 69-63 victory over a very physical USC team in Los Angeles was a game in which UW coach June Daugherty said her team played at higher level than it had all season.

“We challenged ourselves to play a harder brand of basketball, a more physical brand of basketball,” Daugherty said. “We wanted to not let the game be dictated by the other team. We wanted to be the ones that were doing the dictating.”

In other words, to return to the hard-nosed style of last year’s Huskies, who reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. That team, the most physical UW team in recent memory, knew nothing about a soft foul, a missed rebound or a passive screen.

The 2002 version is becoming that.

“The team took it to heart,” Daugherty said. “We were, no doubt about it, the aggressor.”

Whether that carries over against Arizona (11-11, 7-6) tonight is up for debate. Forward Elizabeth Pickney and center LaKeisha Taylor combine for 26 points and nearly 14 rebounds a game. Guard Dee-Dee Wheeler is making a strong bid for Freshman of the Year honors.

Arizona also is a physical, athletic team that makes observers wonder why it’s playing just .500 ball. It also is a team Washington needs to beat if it wants an NCAA Tournament bid this season.

“There’s no question that there were a lot of things that could have gone better in our preseason,” Daugherty said. “That puts a higher premium on the Pac-10.”