Washington women strike first in renewed rivalry with Seattle U.

For now it lacks a catchy name or keepsake trophy -- no Axe (Stanford-California) or Old Oaken Bucket (Purdue-Indiana) -- but after Washington's 82-56 women's basketball win over Seattle University Friday, everyone agreed that this potential crosstown rivalry, dormant for 24 years, is worth cultivating.

"Why not?" UW coach Tia Jackson asked after watching the Huskies (2-2) open the second half on a 15-1 run to build a 20-point lead that essentially iced the game and assured Washington of its second straight win.

"You saw the support," Jackson said, referring to the Edmundson Pavilion crowd of 2,548 on hand to watch the four-team Husky Classic. "It would be great for our city."

Senior Michelle Augustavo, who led Washington with 15 points after hitting 5 of 7 three-point shots, says the Washington and Seattle U. women played numerous pickup games over the summer.

"It's a fun rivalry," said Augustavo, one of five UW players to score in double figures. "We called it the 'Battle of Seattle' when we were getting ready for it. We're friends with those girls, so it's a little bittersweet, but at the same time it's a great win for us. We wanted to prove that we are the best team in Seattle."

The women's teams had not met since 1984, but with Seattle U. transitioning into NCAA Division I, coach Dan Kriley says Washington already has been scheduled to play at the Connolly Center next December.

"We're going to try to keep this thing going," said Kriley, in his fifth season at Seattle U. "It's a rivalry that I think this city will get excited about. Obviously, we wish we would have played a little bit better today, but now we know where we stand and kind of what we're up against."

Washington opened the game with a 10-0 run and led by 14 midway through the first half. But the Redhawks, led by 5-foot-11 Minnesota transfer Breanna Salley (23 points and eight rebounds, both game highs) cut that advantage to 34-28 at halftime.

The Huskies opened the second half with amped-up defense pressure that, in the first three minutes, generated six Seattle turnovers and just one SU shot attempt.

During UW's 15-1 spurt, promising 6-2 freshman forward Mollie Williams (10 points on 5-of-6 shooting) hit three straight baskets, two of them reverse layups. Sami Whitcomb (11 points) punctuated the streak with a three-pointer.

"They switched up defenses on us big time today, and that kind of put us on our heels," Kriley said.

Said Jackson: "I think defense is our signature."

Notes

• Washington plays Clemson (4-2) at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Husky Classic title game. Clemson defeated Kent State 68-53 in Friday's early game. Seattle U. will face Kent State (3-1) at noon Sunday.

• Starting F Heidi McNeill left the game with a bruised right thigh that could sideline her from three days to two weeks. Reserve F Mackenzie Argens also left the game with discomfort in her surgically repaired left knee.