Washington Breezes

Rhonda Smith and Cynthia Lewis each scored four points during an 18-4 first-half Washington run that put the Huskies comfortably ahead in a 73-56 victory over Ohio University in an NCAA Mideast regional first-round game Thursday night.

OU (23-7) closed to within 10 points of the Huskies twice in the second half, the last time on Renee Robare’s jumper with just under 10 minutes remaining, but the Bobcats could get no closer.

Washington (24-8) immediately responded to Robare’s basket with a 7-2 run that included 4 points from Smith. The Huskies coasted the rest of the way.

Smith, the career scoring leader for the Huskies, scored 19 points, while Melissa Wuschnig added 17 points and a career-high 15 rebounds, and Katia Foucade chipped in 12 points.

UW 73, Ohio U. 56 OHIO U. (23-7)

Sito 5-15 6-10 16, Borden 1-3 2-2 4, Skeen 2-6 3-5 7, Van Kannel 1-6 2-2 4, Britt 4-8 2-2 10, Grbac 3-6 0-0 6, Blackstone 1-2 3-3 5, Robare 1-6 2-2 4. Totals 18-52 20-26 56.

WASHINGTON (24-8)

Gonsalves 1-3 0-0 2, Lewis 3-9 1-3 7, Smith 8-13 3-7 19, Foucade 6-10 0-0 12, Kelly 1-9 0-0 3, Wuschnig 6-9 4-9 17, Savasta 2-6 0-1 4, Perkins 2-3 0-0 4, Tilbrook 0-0 3-6 3, Pelz 1-4 0-0 2, Niemela 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-66 11-26 73.

Halftime-Washington 34, Ohio U. 18. 3-Point goals-Ohio U. 0-5 (Sito 0-1, Grbac 0-1, Robare 0-1, Van Kannel 0-2), Washington 2-7 (Wuschnig 1-2, Kelly 1-3, Savasta 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Ohio U. 43 (Skeen 10), Washington 40 (Wuschnig 15). Assists-Ohio U. 9 (Skeen, Van Kannel 2), Washington 16 (Foucade 6). Total fouls-Ohio U. 19, Washington 21. A-4,309.