SEATTLE — Washington went on the road last week and lost by a combined 105 points to Stanford and California, yet Huskies coach Tia Jackson is hardly ready to panic.
In less than a month the Huskies have suffered the two most lopsided losses in program history — a 58-point loss to top-ranked Connecticut last month and a 77-point loss to Stanford a week ago — but Jackson says the program is still heading in the right direction.
Starting tonight, the Huskies hope to prove their coach right as they host Oregon at 7 p.m.
“The Stanford game was a terrible game,” said junior forward Sami Whitcomb. “They played great and we didn’t. We certainly didn’t expect the performance that we had, but we have to keep it in perspective. We have to move forward, we have to look forward to the opportunities this week against the Oregon schools. It’s a chance to redeem ourselves, a chance to play together and get some wins.
“We have a great opportunity in front of us to show that we’re still a good team, we’re still capable of a lot of things. We certainly still believe that and we’re looking at this weekend as a chance to prove it.”
Washington’s loss to Stanford was the worst in Pac-10 history, and made the Huskies a national story for all the wrong reasons.
Facing a barrage of questions about last week’s embarrassing loss, Jackson repeatedly talked about keeping the blowouts in the proper perspective, and said she’s not the type to give up, and neither are her players.
“I’m not a defeated person and neither is my team,” she said. “I know where we’re trying to go, I know we’re headed in the right direction, I know that there are a lot of lessons that can be taken from that. I think if you’re only focused on (the scores) then you’re missing the big picture of the game.”
And while the two worst losses in program history might cause some to wonder about Jackson’s job security, UW athletic director Scott Woodward said he plans to be patient with the second-year coach.
“I have confidence in coach Jackson,” he said. “She’s in her second year with a very young team, and we’re going to be very patient with her, and I have confidence that she’ll steadily bring the women’s basketball program to where it needs to be.”
But even with plenty of perspective and a vote of confidence from the AD, the Huskies would still love to take the frustration of last week out on the Ducks and Beavers, and prove to their critics that last week was a fluke.
“We definitely want to take it out on Oregon,” said freshman forward Liz Lay. “We just have to come hard and let them feel the wrath.”
Lay, who is still battling back from a knee injury, was part of a new starting lineup Jackson put together for the Cal game following the dismal showing at Stanford. That lineup of freshmen Lay, Charmaine Barlow, Nicole Romeo, redshirt freshman Mackenzie Argens and sophomore Sarah Morton could get the start again, but Jackson said Tuesday that the lineup was still undecided.
Injury update: Lay is playing, but is still limited in minutes, as is Mackenzie Argens, who is also coming back from a knee injury. Kristi Kingma, who suffered a high ankle sprain against Washington State on Jan. 3, is unlikely to play today but could be back for Saturday’s game. Also questionable this week is Sarah Morton, who returned from an ankle injury last week but suffered a minor setback against Cal.
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com. For more on UW sports, check out the Huskies blog at heraldnet.com /huskiesblog
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