The Washington women’s basketball team’s season will continue on following a 61-46 home court victory in the first round of the WNIT.

The start of the squad’s first postseason appearance since 2017 was quite a low-scoring affair, with neither side seeing a field goal for the first three minutes of play. San Francisco threw up threes all day — regardless of whether or not they actually went in — while the Huskies (16-14) went 0-for-9 from behind the arc in the first half. 

Given the Dons’ (19-13) lower scoring percentage of 23 percent during the first two quarters, UW was lucky enough to get by with some relatively shoddy defense. Washington shot at 32 percent, evening the score at 19 going into the second half.

Things remained slow, and the score was neck and neck for the majority of the third quarter. A three pointer from freshman Elle Ladine gave Washington a four-point lead as the fourth quarter approached. The Huskies were able to move ahead by double figures to grab onto a 41-31 lead.

That lead kept on growing, with UW going on a 8-0 run in the final half of the fourth quarter to eventually cap its 15-point victory after USF jacked up a couple more shots. Washington executed very well in the fourth quarter, and finished shooting 43 percent overall. 

Sophomore forward Dalayah Daniels was the Huskies’ lead scorer and rebounder, recording a double-double (14 total points and 11 rebounds). Senior forward Haley Van Dyke contributed an impressive 12 points from the field, along with freshmen guards Hannah Stines and Ladine, who put up 10 and eight points, respectively. Ladine also collected four assists.

UW will play New Mexico at home in the next round of the tournament, with the time of competition to be determined.