In Fort Worth, Texas, avery howell rose into a 3-pointer with 50 seconds left in the first quarter as South Dakota State’s early surge still hung in the air. The ball dropped, the score leveled at 15, and the game’s temperature changed—one clean motion that steadied Washington and signaled that Friday night was no longer going to belong to the 11th-seeded Jackrabbits.
What happened in the Washington–South Dakota State game?
Washington beat South Dakota State 72-54 on Friday, powered by a 30-point, nine-rebound performance from avery howell. South Dakota State opened with a 13-3 lead in the first five minutes, but Washington closed the gap and tied it at 15 on Howell’s late first-quarter 3. Howell hit another 3 just 55 seconds into the second quarter to break the tie and put Washington ahead for good.
Howell finished with seven 3-pointers, providing the scoring punch that pushed Washington to its first women’s NCAA Tournament victory since 2017. Brynn McGaughy added 14 points in 18 minutes for the sixth-seeded Huskies. For South Dakota State, Brooklyn Meyer scored 29 points with seven rebounds, and Emilee Fox added 14 points.
The game’s turning points were not only shots, but possessions. Washington won the rebounding battle 40-25, including 14 offensive rebounds that became 14 second-chance points. South Dakota State coach Aaron Johnston pointed to those offensive rebounds and turnovers as key issues as momentum shifted.
How did Avery Howell describe the moment and the pressure?
For Howell, the poise looked practiced—something she connected to a previous March run. Howell, a transfer from Southern Cal, referenced her experience as a freshman last season during the Trojans’ trip to the Elite Eight.
“That allowed me to have some experience and just feel really comfortable in these type of high-pressure situations, ” Howell said. “That just allows me to hopefully be a calming presence on the court and just be there for my teammates and for my coaches in any way that I can. ”
On Washington’s side, coach Tina Langley framed the win as both a result and a statement—about identity, history, and a group doing something difficult in a high-stakes setting.
“Just really exciting because this is a program that has a lot of great history, a lot of great alumni, so many people that have poured into this university and this women’s basketball program, ” Langley said. “These young women, they’ve come in here and they’ve done something really hard and I think it says a lot about who they are. ”
What does the loss mean for South Dakota State and what comes next?
For South Dakota State, the final buzzer ended more than a game. The 72-54 loss snapped a 10-game winning streak and closed a season that continued a long standard of winning: the Jackrabbits’ 15th consecutive 20-win season, a run that matches active streaks held by programs such as UConn, Baylor, Louisville, and South Carolina.
Early on, Meyer’s quick seven points helped build the 13-3 start. “Felt like we were just rebounding well and taking good looks on offense and just being aggressive on both sides, ” Meyer said. Johnston described the opening as a moment when a team senses what is working—before the tide turns. “Couldn’t have asked for a better way to get the game going, ” Johnston said, before focusing on the damage from uncontested offensive rebounds and too many turnovers.
After the game, the Jackrabbits’ season carried into a different kind of arena: reflection. Johnston emphasized pride in the year and the seniors who helped define it. “Absolutely proud of our team. I thought this was just another fantastic year for our program, ” Johnston said. “We’ve got three great seniors sitting next to me here today. I’m just really honored that they’ve been jackrabbits and helped us achieve so many of the things that they’ve achieved throughout their career. ”
Senior Ellie Colbeck spoke to the hard edge of endings and the comfort of support, pointing to fans who traveled and families who stayed constant through “every high and low. ” Sophomore guard Katie Vasecka looked at the bigger stage, noting that even as an 11 seed, South Dakota State believed it could compete—and that tournament exposure matters for the program’s profile.
Washington, meanwhile, advances to face host and third-seeded TCU on Sunday. TCU entered the tournament with a 30-5 record, was an Elite Eight team last season, and has won 43 consecutive home games since February 2023. Earlier Friday, TCU beat UC San Diego 86-40 in its first-round game.
Back in Fort Worth, the night’s clearest image remained simple: a first-quarter tie, a second-quarter lead, and a Washington team that never gave it back. For South Dakota State, the walk out of the arena carried both pride and the ache of finality. For avery howell, it was a reminder of what experience can do when the pressure rises—steady a team, silence a run, and turn one shot into a new chapter.
