The talented 10th

Washington versus USC isn't a traditional rivalry, but the two evenly matched foes have made this game a special one, and 4,335 came out to witness the 94-76 Husky win.

At the opening tip, only one player from each team shook hands, and the tension built from there. By the first possession, USC (4-6 Pac-10, 9-12 overall) knew what the Husky hands could do, as the UW forced a shot-clock violation.

Junior Andrea Lalum canned a jab-step three squaring up over the Trojan tower, Ebony Hoffman, to make the score 10-6 with 16 minutes to play in the half.

"Andrea hit that step-back three over Ebony, and from then on we hit our shots," Giuliana Mendiola said.

Lalum netted 10 points on 4-4 shooting before five minutes had ticked off and she was 5-6 from three-point range for the game. The shots fell because the ball movement was Wendy's-drive-thru-window fast, and Washington totaled 22 assists on the game.

The Women of Troy took a 30-28 lead with 3:14 to go, and Giuliana Mendiola was irritated.

"The game was too close. I don't like to look up at the scoreboard and see the game tied, or a two-point lead up or down," Mendiola said.

Despite a 36-30 halftime lead, the Huskies expected another overtime nailbiter, but the moment came and they seized it.

"There comes a point in games when you can put teams away; in the second half, we found that point," Payne said. "In the past against this team we have had trouble finishing."

"Last two years it's been double-overtime, then triple overtime and another overtime down there this year," Lalum added.

Before the theft of the game's momentum, all of Montlake got a scare. With 15:40 left in the game, Giuliana took a shot to the bridge of her nose and got up woozy.

"It actually kind of hurt, I was seeing double for a few seconds," Mendiola said. "I was a little cross-eyed, but I'm fine now."

The lead was skimmed to 60-59, and Washington began to use the high-post screen and lob back to the screener -- the play worked twice consecutively for open threes. USC fired two straight airballs, and when Payne drilled another three from the corner, it was time to call the coroner.

Because the men's basketball team plays the Cougars tomorrow, the Husky women's hoop team enjoyed increased fan support in the student section.

"And we'll be there tomorrow night for them," Payne said. "Representatives from most teams were here, just loving to be Huskies. They were loud over there cheering, as we will be when they beat Wazzu."

Senior Cheryl Sorenson was instrumental in rallying the crowd noise after ensuring Hoffman wouldn't finish the game. Her tough defense had Hoffman complaining to the refs more than Mark Cuban.

"Cheryl was pivotal in this game; her leadership made all the difference in the world for us," coach June Daugherty said.

Fifty-eight second-half points were the difference. With two minutes to play, Giuliana Mendiola left blanketed by a standing ovation. When you make 9-13 shots for 22 points, snag 10 rebounds and distribute eight assists, that is what happens.

"We tried to run over this team," Giuliana said, "and we did."

Washington's next roadkill sandwich features the Bruin, as UCLA comes to town to face Washington at 1 p.m. tomorrow.