Category: Basketball

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Nick Martinell scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half on Wednesday night to help Northwestern beat USC 74-68 and snap a five game losing streak.

Five-star freshman Alijah Arenas — a McDonald's All-American and the son of three-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas — made his debut for USC and finished with eight points on 3-of-15 shooting, 0 for 6 from 3-point range. The 6-foot-6 guard hit a pull-up jumper along the right baseline nearly 3 1/2 minutes into the game for his first points and added a 360-layup about two minutes later.

Northwestern (9-10, 1-7) Big Ten) had lost nine straight games in conference play dating to last season. The Wildcats ended their worst start in Big Ten play since the 2007-08 team lost its first 14 games.

Jordan Marsh scored all of his 19 points in the second half and Ezra Ausar added 17 points — 13 after halftime — for USC (14-4, 3-5). Jacob Cofie had 12 rebounds to go with nine points.

Chad Baker-Mazara, USC's leading scorer (18.9 per game), finished with 14 points in 13 foul-plagued minutes.

Nick Martinelli had his 10th consecutive game scoring at least 20 points, the longest active streak in the nation Freshman Tyler Kropp made his first career start and finished with 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Jake West also scored 11 points and had five assists.

With 1.6 seconds on the shot clock, Max Green threw and inbounds pass from three-quarters court to Martinelli, who immediately turned and hit a baseline jumper to make it 67-63 with 2:14 to play. Martinelli then stole the ball, went coast to coast and fed Kropp for a layup and it was at least a two-possession game the rest of the way.

Up next

Northwestern: The Wildcats play Saturday at UCLA.

USC: The Trojans visit Wisconsin on Sunday.

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Vince Dunn and Jared McCann had a goal and an assist each and the Seattle Kraken snapped a four-game skid with a 4-1 win over the New York Islanders on Wednesday night.

Matty Beniers and Kaapo Kakko also scored goals for Seattle, while Philipp Grubauer had 24 saves and the secondary assist on McCann's empty-net goal late in the third period.

Anthony Duclair scored on the power play just 2:38 into the game for the Islanders, who wrapped up a seven-game road trip with a 3-3-1 record.

It was the seventh time in their last eight games that the Kraken gave up the first goal.

Ilya Sorokin, who had won four of his previous five starts in goal for the Islanders, made 21 saves and fell to 16-12-2 overall.

After Duclair gave the Islanders the early lead with his fifth goal in his last five games, Beniers deflected in a shot by Dunn while on a five-on-three power play with 9:20 to play in the first period to make it 1-1. The teams combined for six penalties in the first.

Dunn gave the Kraken the lead for good with his seventh goal on the season with 6:23 to play in the second. He scored on a wrist shot with Ryan Winterton and Ben Meyers each getting an assist on the goal.

McCann has now scored a point in 17 of the 25 games he has played this season.

Up next

Islanders: Return home to face Buffalo on Saturday.

Kraken: Host Anaheim in game 3 of a six-game homestand on Friday night.

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CALGARY, Alberta (AP) — Tommy Novak and Evgeni Malkin each had a goal and an assist as the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Calgary Flames 4-1 on Wednesday night.

Yegor Chinakhov and Bryan Rust also scored for Pittsburgh (24-14-11). The Penguins have points in five straight games (3-0-2) and are 9-2-2 in their last 13 games. Stuart Skinner made 18 saves in his sixth win in seven starts and improved to 17-12-4. Skinner is 6-2-1 against the Flames in his career.

Penguins captain Sidney Crosby had an assist and extended his point streak to four games (two goals, five assists).

Yegor Sharangovich scored for Calgary (21-24-5). Dustin Wolf had 21 stops in losing for the sixth time in seven games. He fell to 15-20-2.

The Flames have been limited to two goals in two games since Sunday’s trade that sent defenseman Rasmus Andersson to the Vegas Golden Knights. At the time, Andersson was third on the team in scoring.

Malkin’s 11th goal at 7:49 of the first period gave the Penguins a lead they never squandered.

Calgary got on the scoreboard with three seconds left in the second period when Zach Whitecloud’s point shot deflected in off the pants of Sharangovich. Pittsburgh restored its two-goal advantage 50 seconds into the third period when Rust scored on a wraparound.

Penguins defenseman Kris Letang (upper body) missed his first game of the season. Jack St. Ivany took his spot and had a pair of assists as Pittsburgh avenged its 2-1 home-ice loss to the Flames 11 days ago.

The Flames' Martin Pospisil made his season debut after being sidelined with a concussion. The 26-year-old Slovak was recalled Tuesday from the AHL after a two-game conditioning stint. With Jonathan Huberdeau (lower body) a scratch, Pospisil took his spot on the left side of Morgan Frost and Joel Farabee.

Up next

Penguins: Visit Edmonton on Thursday.

Flames: Host Washington on Friday.

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DENVER (AP) — Mikael Granlund and Cutter Gauthier scored in the shootout and Lukas Dostal stopped 40 shots as Anaheim defeated the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche for the Ducks' fifth straight win Wednesday night.

Jeffrey Viel scored in his second straight game as the Ducks opened a six-game road trip.

Artturi Lehkonen scored for Colorado, and Scott Wedgewood made 16 saves.

Alex Killorn played in his 1,000th career NHL game. He spent 11 years with Tampa Bay, winning the Stanley Cup twice, before signing with Anaheim as a free agent in 2023.

Colorado forward Valeri Nichushkin returned after missing Monday night's win over the Washington Capitals. He was involved in a car accident on his way to the rink and was held out as a precaution.

The Avalanche played without Gabriel Landeskog (upper body), defenseman Devon Toews (upper) and forward Joel Kiviranta (lower body). Forward Logan O’Connor has yet to play this season as he recovers from offseason hip surgery.

Up next

Ducks visit Seattle on Friday.

Avalanche wrap up a seven-game homestand against Philadelphia on Friday.

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SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Ben Hammond scored 24 points and reserve Tobi Lawal recorded a double-double and Virginia Tech beat Syracuse 76-74 on Wednesday night.

Hammond made 12 of 13 foul shots, and Lawal scored 16 points, shot 10 of 14 from the stripe — including 4 of 4 in the final 32 seconds — and grabbed 11 rebounds.

The duo combined to make 22 of Virginia Tech's 26 foul shots.

Neoklis Avdalis and Amani Hansberry each scored 10 points for the Hokies (15-5, 4-3 ACC), who have won three of four.

J.J. Starling scored 12 points, Nate Kingz and reserve Sadiq White Jr. each scored 11 and Donnie Freeman and William Kyle III 10 apiece for Syracuse.

The Orange led 37-30 at halftime before Virginia Tech erased the deficit outscoring Syracuse 16-8 in the first nine minutes of the second half to claim a 46-45 lead when Hammond made 1 of 2 foul shots.

Lawal made 1 of 2 foul shots, Hammond made a short floater and a three-point play and the Hokies led 59-53 with 5:50 left and never trailed again.

The Orange have dropped consecutive games following a three-game win streak.

Up Next

Virginia Tech: The Hokies play Saturday at 23rd-ranked Louisville.

Syracuse: The Orange host Miami on Saturday.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore is returning to court for the first time since being charged with vengeful acts against a woman shortly after he was fired for having a relationship with her.

Moore, 39, faces three charges, including felony home invasion and stalking. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges and must wear a tracking device while free on bond.

A judge in the Ann Arbor area set a hearing for Thursday to get an update on the case, six weeks after Moore was fired and arrested. The next step would be to schedule another hearing to determine if there's enough evidence to order a trial on the felony charge.

Moore went inside the woman's apartment on Dec. 10 and blamed her for losing his job that day, even grabbing butter knives and kitchen scissors and threatening to kill himself, according to authorities.

“My blood is on your hands," Washtenaw County assistant prosecutor Kati Rezmierski has quoted Moore as telling the woman, who was a football staff member.

Rezmierski said the woman had told school officials about their relationship. Moore was fired for the relationship and lying during the university's investigation. Kyle Whittingham, who coached Utah for two decades, is the new Michigan coach.

Moore coached the Wolverines for two seasons as the successor to Jim Harbaugh, who won a national championship before quitting to become coach of the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers.

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Knicks broke a four-game losing streak without breaking a sweat, crushing the Brooklyn Nets 120-66 on Wednesday night in the most lopsided victory in franchise history.

Jalen Brunson scored 20 points and Landry Shamet was 6 for 6 on 3-pointers and added 18 for the Knicks, who led by as much as 59 points before the 54-point victory that surpassed the previous largest victory margin of 48 points.

The Knicks had lost nine of their last 11 games so this was a good time to play Brooklyn, because they never lose to the Nets these days. New York won its 13th straight meeting in the local rivalry.

The Knicks were already on track to win this one easily before outscoring the Nets 16-0 to open the fourth quarter, extending a 32-point lead to 104-56.

Michael Porter Jr. shot 4 for 14 and was limited to 12 points, but was still the leading scorer for a Nets team that has lost eight of nine.

Two days after the Knicks were booed frequently while trailing by 30 points in the first half of their 114-97 loss to Dallas, the scoreboard was crooked in their favor.

A 14-0 run gave the Knicks an 18-6 lead midway through the first quarter, and they closed the period with a 14-3 spurt to open a 38-20 lead after Shamet finished the period with consecutive 3-pointers.

The Knicks led 60-38 at the break. They then outscored the Nets 60-28 in the second half.

CAVALIERS 94, HORNETS 87

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Donovan Mitchell scored 24 points, Evan Mobley added 14 points and 14 rebounds and Cleveland jumped out to 21-point first-quarter lead and held on to beat Charlotte for its fifth road win in the last six games.

Jaylon Tyson scored 14 points and Jarod Allen added 13 points and nine rebounds for the Cavaliers, who held the Hornets to 32 points in the first half on 26% shooting.

Brandon Miller finished with 24 points and Kon Knueppel had 21 points and 11 rebounds to lead Charlotte, which made just 8 of 46 3-point attempts and was outrebounded 60-47.

The Cavs bolted to a big lead in the first quarter after making 11 of 15 shots from the field to open the game.

Cleveland’s stifling on-ball pressure defense repeatedly forced Charlotte into uncharacteristic turnovers and hurried shots.

Mitchell set the tone for the Cavaliers with 14 points in the first half, and Cleveland’s defense never allowed Charlotte to get into any rhythm in the first two quarters. The Hornets tied a season low with 12 points in the second quarter and trailed 56-32 lead at the break.

CELTICS 119, PACERS 104

BOSTON (AP) — Jaylen Brown had 30 points and 10 rebounds and Boston opened a 23-point first-half lead before coasting to a victory over Indiana.

Sam Hauser hit five 3-pointers, scoring 17 points for Boston, and Neemias Queta had 17 points and nine rebounds. The Celtics bounced back from Monday night’s one-point loss at Eastern Conference-leading Detroit.

Pascal Siakam had 32 points and 10 rebounds for the Pacers, who had won four of seven games since losing 13 in a row in December and January. Jarace Walker scored 19 points off the bench for Indiana.

Hauser hit his first three attempts from 3-point range — two of them in the game’s first 68 seconds. The Celtics led 57-34 with 3:22 left in the second quarter, but Indiana cut the deficit to nine in the third before Anfernee Simons hit a 3-pointer.

The Pacers never got back within single digits.

HAWKS 124, GRIZZLIES 122

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Jalen Johnson had 32 points and 15 rebounds and a key basket in the closing minute as Atlanta used a fourth-quarter burst and held on to defeat Memphis.

Luke Kennard and Onyeka Okongwu added 18 each for the Hawks, who snapped a four-game losing streak.

Ja Morant led Memphis with 23 points and 12 assists. His 3-point attempt at the horn was off the mark. Jaylen Wells finished with 18 points, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Cedric Coward scored 17 points apiece.

Memphis held a 110-108 lead with 5:39 left, but the Hawks scored eight straight points, capped by a pair of free throws from Johnson. Memphis never overtook the Hawks the rest of the way, but were within 122-121 on a Coward 3-pointer with 1:09 left.

Johnson’s basket from the lane with 40 seconds left kept the Grizzlies at bay.

There were 21 lead changes and 14 ties in the game.

PISTONS 112, PELICANS 104

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Jalen Duran scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, Daniss Jenkins added 17 points and Detroit never trailed while cruising to its fourth straight victory, beating New Orleans.

Duncan Robinson had 15 points while shooting 4 of 9 from 3-point range for the Eastern Conference-leading Pistons, who have won seven of their last eight.

Saddiq Bey scored 20 points to lead the Western Conference-worst Pelicans, who have lost 14 of their last 16.

Zion Williamson, who started after being listed as questionable with an illness, went to the locker room early in the third quarter and didn’t return. He had 4 points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.

Trey Murphy III shot just 6 of 19 from the floor and finished with 17 points, ending his streak of eight straight games with at least 20 points. Micah Peavy also had 17 points and added seven rebounds and four steals for New Orleans.

THUNDER 122, BUCKS 102

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 40 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds and NBA-leading Oklahoma City withstood multiple injury-related absences to trounce Milwaukee.

The Thunder won for the seventh time in eight games despite playing without Jalen Williams (strained right hamstring), Isaiah Hartenstein (strained right soleus), Alex Caruso (strained right adductor), Aaron Wiggins (sore right groin) and Jaylin Williams (bruised left glute).

Gilgeous-Alexander picked up the slack, as the reigning MVP shot 16 of 19 from the floor.

Oklahoma City’s Ajay Mitchell scored 18 points in the first half and ended up playing 25 minutes before leaving with a hip bruise. Kenrich Williams also scored 18 points for the Thunder, who shot 54.4% from the floor.

Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists.

RAPTORS 122, KINGS 109

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Scottie Barnes scored 14 of his 23 points in the third quarter and Toronto beat Sacramento.

Barnes shot 8 of 17 and had eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals while posting his season-high fifth consecutive game with 22 or more points.

Brandon Ingram also had 23 points for the Raptors, who outscored the Kings 43-21 in the third quarter and won in Sacramento for the first time since Jan. 25, 2023. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 22 points and nine rebounds. Immanuel Quickley scored 18 points.

One day after shooting 59% overall while tying its season high with 21 3-pointers in an 18-point win over the Golden State Warriors, Toronto’s offense had sporadic success against Sacramento,

The Raptors blew a nine-point lead in the first quarter and trailed by nine at halftime before Barnes found his rhythm. He made five of six shots in the third quarter to help Toronto regain the lead and take control.

Russell Westbrook scored 23 points for the Kings. Zach LaVine had 19 points and five assists. Malik Monk scored 17.

Sacramento has lost three straight since its season-high four-game winning streak.

The Knicks sure needed that one.

New York's 120-66 win over the Nets on Wednesday night not only snapped a four-game losing streak, but showed the MSG crowd -- and themselves -- that the team that was one of the best in the NBA is still there.

And there was a lot to like from Wednesday's performance. 

The offense, which entered ranked in the bottom five of the league for January, scored 120 points, their highest since a win in Portland back on Jan. 11 (six games). The defense, which was much-maligned all season, allowed an NBA season-low 66 points on 29 percent shooting. And the 54-point margin is the biggest in Knicks franchise history.

"Just seeing us play the way we’re capable of playing…the things that we did out on the floor, we talked about, we drilled, watch film on," coach Mike Brown said after the win. "And our guys are more than capable of. To go see them put it together for 48 minutes was a lot of fun."

Consistency, or the lack thereof, has been the key for the Knicks during this rough patch. Some nights they'll play inspired basketball on both ends of the floor, and others look like their loss to the lowly Mavericks this past Monday. 

“A win. It’s the most important thing. Find a way to break the ice and put one in the left column," Karl-Anthony Towns said. "Good game, good day for us to show what we’re capable of. Consistency is what makes champions. We've got to find that consistency of bringing this kind of intensity, energy and execution every single night."

Towns, unfairly or not, has been the face of the Knicks' struggles. Coach Brown has subtly called out Towns' need to "sacrifice" in his system, while the big man has acknowledged his struggles to adapt. 

On Wednesday, Towns did it all. He scored 14 points on 5 of 8 shooting (2-for-3 from three) while coming down with eight rebounds, dishing three assists and getting one steal. He was a plus-21 on the court in his 20 minutes and his energy level was up and consistent throughout the game.

He was asked how the team can build on this win, and the second-year Knick said, with a grin, “Try to get two wins in a row, so sure. Execute plays with this aggression and have this kind of determination every single night.”

Amidst the Knicks' 2-9 stretch, there was a report that captain Jalen Brunson called a players-only meeting. The All-Star starter had a team-high 20 points in 30 minutes and said on the MSG floor after the game that the Knicks did some "soul-searching" the last few days. 

"We just had to refocus and get back to who we are," Brunson said. "This is a good step for us, but we've got to continue to press the issue of getting better every single day."

Josh Hart, who had a near-double-double, downplayed the players-only meeting, saying the media "dragged" it and that the players just talked.

"We know what we have to do," Hart said. "We cleaned some up in film and practice and today in walkthrough. We know we haven’t been able to play up to our capabilities. We’re going to continue to build off this win."

"I think losing four in a row better get everyone on the same page. Glad tonight that everyone looked like they saw what was going on and what we needed to stop the bleeding," Towns said of the meeting. "I thought we did a good job of showing what we’re capable of tonight. Consistency is what’s going to make us great. And it’s going to make this season a successful season. We just go to build off of this."

New York's next game comes against the 76ers, a team they've lost twice to at home already this season. This time, they'll be in Philadelphia for a 3 p.m. tip on Saturday afternoon. 

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Rashaun Agee had 23 points, 10 rebounds, and five assists as Texas A&M cruised by Mississippi State 88-68 on Wednesday night.

The Aggies (15-4, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) have won eight of their last nine, their only loss coming at the hands of then-No. 24 Tennessee 87-82 in double overtime.

Agee was 7 of 14 from the field and 9 for 9 from the free-throw line. His nine double-doubles this season are second most in the SEC behind Florida's Rueben Chinyelu (10).

Rylan Griffen added 15 points, and Jacari Lane and Pop Isaacs each scored 10 for Texas A&M. Lane led the Aggies with six assists.

Texas A&M led for over 32 minutes of game time, last trailing just before the midway point of the first half. Agee made a layup to put the Aggies ahead 19-18, and they did not trail again, holding a 44-33 lead at the break.

Brandon Walker scored 16 points in 19 minutes off the bench for the Bulldogs (10-9, 2-4). King Grace had 13 points, Josh Hubbard 12 points and Jayden Epps scored 11. Achor Achor grabbed 10 rebounds to go with six points.

Mississippi State has lost four straight games.

Up next

Texas A&M: The Aggies host South Carolina on Saturday.

Mississippi State: The Bulldogs host No. 15 Vanderbilt on Saturday.

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. (AP) — Boden Kapke scored 19 points and his 3-pointer with 22 seconds left was the game-winning basket as Boston College left Pittsburgh in the ACC cellar with a 65-62 win on Wednesday night.

Fred Payne also scored 19 points and Donald Hand Jr. added 18 points as the Eagles (9-10, 2-4) shot 45% (25 of 55) from the field despite 32% (7 for 22) from 3-point range.

Roman Siulepa and Cameron Cohren each scored 13 points, Brandin Cummings 11 and Barry Dunning Jr. and reserve Nojus Indrusaitis 10 each for Pittsburgh. Cohren and Siulepa grabbed 12 and 11 rebounds, respectively.

Following Kapke's 3, Cummings missed a deep 3 attempt with nine seconds left. After a Pitt (8-11, 1-5) intentional foul, Siulepa stole the inbounds pass and fed Cummings who missed another attempt from 3 as time expired.

Pitt, Notre Dame and Florida State sit at the bottom of the conference at 1-5, a game behind California, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest and BC.

Up Next

Pitt: The Panthers host North Carolina State on Saturday.

Boston College: The Eagles visit Notre Dame on Saturday.

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TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Treysen Eaglestaff hit six 3-pointers and finished with 23 points to help West Virginia beat Arizona State 75-63 on Wednesday night.

Brenen Lorient made 7 of 11 from the field and scored 15 points for West Virginia (13-6, 4-2 Big 12). Jasper Floyd had 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting and added five rebounds, four assists and three steals. Honor Huff, who went into the game averaging 17.1 points per game, scored eight on 2-of-9 shooting.

Maurice Odum had 17 points and eight assists, Massamba Diop scored 14 points, and Noah Meeusen added 11 points for Arizona State (10-9, 1-5). The Sun Devils have lost three straight and seven of their last eight.

Lorient hit a 3-pointer that gave the Mountaineers the lead for good with 11:55 to play, Chance Moore followed with a three-point play and Floyd made a layup to cap an 8-0 spurt in a 65-second span that made it 53-46.

Diop threw down a dunk and Anthony Johnson added a three-point play that made it a two-point game. Floyd then answered with a 3 and a layup before Eaglestaff made a 3-pointer and converted a three-point play that gave West Virginia a 64-54 lead with five minutes remaining.

The Mountaineers shot 51% (27 of 53) from the field and hit 11 3-pointers.

The Sun Devils won the only other matchup between the teams 65-57 a year ago to the day.

Up next

West Virginia: The Mountaineers visit No. 1 Arizona on Saturday.

Arizona State: The Sun Devils host Cincinnati on Saturday.

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PROVO, Utah (AP) — Olivia Hamlin scored 20 points, Delaney Gibb tallied 17, and BYU trailed for less than a minute of game time in a 73-61 win over No. 19 Texas Tech.

The Cougars (15-4, 4-3 Big 12) won their first game against a ranked team since a 68-64 win on Feb. 15, 2025 against then-No. 20 Oklahoma State. They are 3-7 in their last 10 games against ranked opponents, and 23-55 historically.

After Texas Tech hit a game-opening 3-pointer, BYU went on a 7-0 run that gave them the lead for good. A 9-0 run to start the fourth quarter extended their lead to double-digits, and they cruised to a comfortable victory.

Laura Rokohl added 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting for BYU and grabbed eight rebounds. Gibb dished a team-high six assists. Hamlin was 9-of-15 from the floor and 2-for-5 from beyond the arc.

For the No. 19 Lady Raiders (19-2, 6-2), Snudda Collins scored 17 points and Jalynn Bristow came one point shy of a double-double with nine points and 11 rebounds. The Lady Raiders have lost two straight after their 19-0 start.

Texas Tech struggled shooting, managing 33% from the floor and 26% from beyond the arc. BYU was 47% and 44%, respectively.

Up next

No. 19 Texas Tech visits Utah on Saturday.

BYU hosts No. 22 West Virginia on Saturday.

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SEATTLE (AP) — Sayvia Sellers scored 24 points, Avery Howell had a double-double, and No. 25 Washington dominated the second half in an 81-65 victory over Penn State on Wednesday night.

The Huskies led 38-37 at halftime before outscoring Penn State 43-28 in the second half.

Washington opened the third quarter on a 2-for-10 shooting slump but made 6 of 7 free throws in the first 4 1/2 minutes to lead 48-44. Sellers scored nine of the Huskies' 22 points in the quarter and they led 60-51 heading to the fourth.

Howell opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer and the Huskies led by double digits for the final eight minutes. The lead reached 19 at 79-60 and again at 81-62 in the final minute.

Howell had 13 points and 12 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. Brynn McGaughy had 14 points and nine rebounds off the bench for Washington (15-4, 5-3 Big Ten).

Gracie Merkle scored 19 points and Kiyomi McMiller had 11 for Penn State (7-13, 0-9).

McGaughy scored 10 points on 5-for-5 shooting in the first quarter and the Huskies took a 21-11 lead. The Nittany Lions scored 26 points in the second quarter to cut their deficit to a point.

The Huskies have won six of their last seven conference home games dating to last season.

Up next

Penn State: The Nittany Lions visit Oregon on Saturday.

Washington: The Huskies play Sunday at Rutgers.

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