The Washington State women’s basketball team (15-11, 6-9) blewout the Washington Huskies (19-8, 8-7) 83-72 in the Alaska Airlines Arena. WSU used a three-point barrage midway through the second half to pull away from the Huskies.

Dawynelle Awa hit three three pointers in the second half, she scored 11 points. (Courtesy of the AP)

Junior point guard Dawnyelle Awa hit back-to-back three pointers with 8:59 left in the second half to extend the Cougar lead to 11, 62-54. Awa’s three pointers came as the Huskies mounted a small comeback to close within seven of the Cougars, it was the closest Washington would get in the second half. Those six points started a 14-0 run for Washington State.

Lia Galdeira, Lou Brown, and Mariah Cooks all hit three pointers during the Cougs run to bury UW.

The Cougars would build on their lead throughout the second half using the three pointer — WSU hit 6-13 three-point shots in the second half. Awa hit all three of her shots from beyond the arc in the second half, and was a major reason that the Cougars were able to pull away from Washington in the second half.

Washington exited the halftime locker room with a five point (38-33) lead and it appeared that the Huskies had figured out a way to stop WSU’s offensive attack. And the Huskies initially widened their lead shortly after play resumed as Kelsey Plum hit a three pointer. But the Huskies would watch as Galdeira and Tia Presely hit a pair of lay-ups to chip away at their lead.

Presley tied the game when she drove into the lane and hit a contested lay-up, and the gave the Cougars a lead when she hit the and-one. Washington State wouldn’t trail again.

The Cougars started off the game on fire, as they used a 10-0 run to take an early 15-4 lead. Unfortunately for WSU, Washington’s Jazmine Davis went off in the first half and helped Washington retake the lead.

Galdeira scored 23 points — Davis also scored 23 — in the victory, and led WSU. But the key reason for the Cougars blowout victory was the fact that four player scored in double digits: Galdeira (23), Presley (17), Cooks (16), and Awa(11). It is nearly impossible to stop the Cougars offensive attack when Presley and Galderia are scoring; it is impossible if they get scoring help.

The Cougars and Huskies face off again on Sunday at 1 pm in Beasley Coliseum.

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