TUCSON, Ariz. – The Washington State Cougars (10-13, 3-9 Pac-12) knocked off the Arizona Wildcats (5-17, 1-10 Pac-12) by a score of 78-60 on Friday night in McKale Center. Borislava Hristova led the way with 17 points.
“In the first quarter, we came out with so much energy and I thought that was how the game was going to go, but we just weren’t getting stops,” head coach Adia Barnes said. “They had an easy time scoring at times because we didn’t locate shooters and that is something we had talked about. I wasn’t disappointed in our effort, I was just a little disappointed that we couldn’t get stops.”
Washington State forced Arizona into 28% in the final three quarters of the game and 38% overall. The Cougars had a balanced attack with five players scoring in double figures while shooting 46% forom the field.
For Arizona, JaLea Bennett was two points shy of her career high as she poured in 24 on 8-15 shooting and 8-10 from the line. Destiny Graham was one rebound short of a double-double, scoring 15 points and bringing down nine rebounds.
“We came out how we wanted to,” Bennett said. “but we have to contain them on their runs since basketball is a game of runs. We didn’t bounce back after their runs, so that really dug us into a hole going into half time and third quarter.”
The Wildcats got off to a rocking start in the first quarter, outscoring the Cougars 22-14 while shooting 53% from the field. The second quarter was a total 360 as Washington State dominated, winning the period 27-10 on the back of five three pointers. At half, Washington State led 41-32.
Washington State started off hot at the start of the third quarter, extending their lead all the way to 21 at one point, but Arizona would respond with a 14-0 run of their own to get back into the game. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Cougars held a 61-50 lead.
The Wildcats made a few late pushes in the fourth quarter, but the Cougars proved to be too much down the stretch to win their third conference game of the season.
Arizona will finish up the weekend with the Washington Huskies on Sunday at noon MST.
