Oregon State
Washington
Shannon Howell Pours In 40 Points But Beavers Fall At Washington, 87-74
January 17, 2004 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 17, 2004
SEATTLE, Wash. - Junior guard Shannon Howell scored a career-high 40 points but Oregon State dropped its Saturday evening Pacific-10 Conference women's basketball game to University of Washington by a score of 87-74.
Howell buried 14-of-28 field goals in the game, including 5-of-10 from 3-point range, and was a perfect 7-for-7 from the free throw line. She became the fifth player in OSU history to score 40 points in a single game and the first since All-American Tanja Kostic finished with 43 points against Boise State in 1995.
"I think Shannon scored 40 points within our offense and saw the open gaps," said OSU head coach Judy Spoelstra. "She can get by any player in this conference which opens things up for the rest of the offense."
The loss drops OSU to 10-6 overall and 4-3 in the Pac-10 while Washington improved to 10-7 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
The back and forth first half saw both teams exchange baskets until Oregon State used a 6-0 run to build a 15-9 advantage with 13:02 left.
UW freshman Cameo Hicks took over from there however, scoring eight straight points for the Huskies and catapulting a 12-0 run.
Howell kept the Beavers close by scoring eight in a row of her own, including a pair of 3-pointers, but another 8-0 run by Washington helped the Huskies build their largest lead of the frame at 34-25 with 3:28 remaining.
Washington headed into the lockerroom with a 41-35 advantage at the break.
Howell finished with 21 points, including a 4-for-4 clip from 3-point range, in the first 20 minutes of action, while Brina Chaney added 10 points. The duo combined to score OSU's first 25 points of the game.
The Huskies opened the second half by scoring six quick points and never looked back.
OSU closed within three points (64-61) after Chaney buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key with 5:40 on the clock, but UW reeled off six in a row to keep the game out of reach.
Washington had five players reach double figures in scoring, led by Gioconda Mendiola's 22 points, including a 6-for-9 clip from beyond the 3-point line.
Chaney finished with a season-best 17 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore guard Anita Rivera sparked the Beavers off the bench with seven points on a perfect 3-for-3 shooting.
OSU had a season-low nine turnovers in the contest and broke the school record for free throw percentage in a single game with a perfect 13-for-13 mark from the line.
Oregon State returns to Corvallis to face Arizona State University on Thursday. The Beavers and Sun Devils are set to tip-off at 7 p.m. in Gill Coliseum.
