SAN DIEGO – True freshman Borislava Hristova led the Cougars in scoring and rebounds, as the Washington State women's basketball team (7-1) concluded its nine-day road trip with a victory at San Diego, 78-72, Sunday afternoon. Hristova scored 21 points to lead the way for the Cougars, and was assisted by sophomore Caila Hailey, who scored a career-high 11 points. Hristova was also WSU's leading rebounder against the Toreros (7-1), pulling in five rebounds.

The Cougars shot .542 (32-of-59) from the field to hand San Diego its first loss of the season. Sophomore Pinelopi Pavlopoulou dished out a career-high four assists to go along with four assists from senior Dawnyelle Awa. Washington State's bench players outscored USD's bench, 32-4, led by nine points from senior Taylor Edmonson. In total, 11 WSU players scored against the Toreros.

Washington State secured its victory late in the game, behind six fourth-quarter points from Hristova. After San Diego took a one-point lead with just over seven minutes to play, the Cougars went on an 11-3 run to regain a 73-66 advantage with two minutes left in the game. The Toreros cut the WSU lead to three points with 45 seconds to play before senior Mariah Cooks put the game away with a layup and free throw.

The game was a series of runs by each team, beginning with a 10-4 run by the Cougars to start the game. Sophomore Louise Brown nailed a 3-pointer before converting a layup to give WSU the six-point lead with five minutes to play in the opening period. San Diego responded with a run, erasing the Cougars' lead to take a 21-20 advantage into the second quarter.

In the second quarter, WSU shot .667 (12-of-18) from the floor, led by Hristova. After the Toreros jumped out to a five-point lead, the Cougars went on a 17-2 run to take a double-digit lead with four minutes left in the period. USD cut into the lead, but WSU maintained a 47-42 advantage into the break. The Cougars have not trailed this season at halftime.

Returning from halftime, both teams increased their defensive pressure. WSU extended its lead back to 10 points, before San Diego cut it down to three points. The Cougars forced the Toreros into a pair of turnovers and 1-of-3 shooting in the final three minutes of the third quarter to take a 60-55 lead into the final period, where WSU would go on to win by six points.

Redshirt-freshman Nike McClure played a career-high 11 minutes against San Diego, recording a pair of blocked shots, in addition to the four she had against Boise State, Thursday. The Cougars committed just 12 turnovers in the game, the fewest by WSU this season. Washington State is 7-1 for the first time since the 1994-95 season.

The Cougars will return to Pullman for the first time in nine days with little respite before their next opponent. WSU welcomes Gonzaga to Beasley Coliseum Tuesday, Dec. 8. The Cougars and Bulldogs will tip off at 6:02 p.m. with coverage on the Pac-12 Networks.