WSU opens league play with win over San Diego
HERALD SPORTS STAFF | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
Tara Wallack led the Cougars’ scoring on the court against San Diego Thursday night with 13 points.
COURTESY PHOTO/SAN DIEGO ATHLETICS
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Washington State women’s basketball team grabbed a 65-42 victory over San Diego to open league play Thursday evening in an away game. Ten of the Cougs’ players scored with four hitting double digits on the board, according to stats released by WSU.
The WSU team matched their record on defense with 14 blocks and seven steals against the Toreros.
WSU’s Tara Wallack led the Cougars’ scoring with 13 points and made six of 12 shots from the floor with five rebounds, four assists and two of the team’s steals. Closely behind her was Eleonora Villa with an even dozen points and a pair of rebounds. Astera Tuhina finished with 11 points in the game, four rebounds and two assists. Fourth in scoring was Charolotte Abraham with 10 points.
Despite solid scoring in the end, the game started out slow for both teams, initially with the teams tied 6-6. Things started hopping quickly after Wallack sank a jumper and Eleonnora Villa three capped a 14-0 run, sending WSU into the second quarter with a 14-9 lead.
Tuhina put five points on the board to start the second quarter strong, eventually extending the lead 19-11. Wallack came in with seven straight points before Villa dropped a layup and Abraham tripled in the final seconds of the half, leaving WSU with a 33-21 lead at halftime.
The Cougs kept up momentum coming out of halftime with three-pointers from Abraham and Villa helping improve the lead to 33-21. Three-pointers continued as Tuhina pushed the lead over 20, then Kyra Gardner dropped additional baskets to push the lead to 56-31 at the top of the fourth quarter.
The game finished after an 11-0 run made the score 61-31 midway through the fourth quarter and the Cougs finalized the game with a 65-42 lead.
Up next for the Cougars is a home game in Pullman after the holiday break to continue league play. WSU hosts Pepperdine on Dec. 28 at noon, then will hit the road again to play Pacific on Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. Both games can be watched on ESPN+.
BOX SCORE:
WSU: 14, 19, 23, 9 65
SAND: 9, 12, 10, 11 42
ARTICLES BY HERALD SPORTS STAFF
Football set to start with Gridiron Guide
MOSES LAKE — Local football players have started to hit the turf as preseason practices have been running in the late summer. Check out how the players and coaches have been preparing for their seasons with the Gridiron Guide in Friday’s paper.
Wildcats Begin New Era with Championship Expectations
ELLENSBURG — As the Central Washington Wildcats enter fall camp, they also embark on the beginning of a new chapter, according to CWU Athletics. After winning the 2025 GNAC championship and reaching the NCAA West Regional semifinals, the Wildcats enter the 2026 season with a roster loaded with experience, talent and championship aspirations. Lauren Herseth takes over as head coach after serving as the program's associate head coach for the last five seasons, following the departure of Mario Andaya to become CWU's Deputy Director of Athletics. Herseth will be joined by assistant coach Hannah Stires, a former standout Wildcat player who returns to the Wildcats.
Miconi’s Late Strike Lifts Eagles Past Bucknell, 1-0
CHENEY — Eastern Washington earned its second straight win to open the season, defeating Bucknell 1-0 behind a late goal from Mia Miconi and another standout performance in goal from Payton Hyde, according to a statement by EWU Athletics. The Eagles recorded 11 shots in the match, while Bucknell finished with 21. Despite consistent pressure from the Bison, Eastern's defense held strong to secure its second consecutive shutout.