Box Score SALT LAKE CITY – Junior guard Lia Galdeira recorded a double-double to lead Washington State past the University of Utah 61-52 Sunday, giving WSU Head Coach June Daugherty career win No. 400.
“It was fun to get a win like this today,” Daugherty said. “Every player contributed, we buckled down on defense and shared the basketball on the offensive end. I am very fortunate to have been blessed to have great players, great coaching staffs and unbelievable support throughout the years. Today was a big win for us to get back on track.”
The Cougars (14-11, 5-9 Pac-12) had nine players score points and held Utah (8-17, 2-12 Pac-12) to 34 percent shooting while scoring 10 points off of 14 Ute turnovers. Galdeira led the way with 23 points and 10 rebounds along with four steals, notching her first double-double of the season and third of her career. Galdeira also sank three 3-pointers to move in to second all-time in WSU history for career made threes, passing Joanna Smith (4th) and Jazmine Perkins (3rd) along the way. Senior guard Tia Presley added 12 points, junior forward Mariah Cooks finished with nine points and six rebounds and junior point guard Dawnyelle Awa chipped in seven points.
“Lia showed great patience today after trailing early,” Daugherty added. “She (Lia) allowed the game to come to her. Her teammates set some great screens all game. Her tip-in off that offensive rebound really swung things back our way and we also got a big rebound from Tia (Presley) late to seal things up.”
Washington State used a 13-0 run midway through the first half to take a 16-11 lead. Junior guard Taylor Edmondson and freshman guard Caila Hailey got the Cougar offense going with a pair of driving layups. Cooks followed with bucket from the low post as she was fouled and finished off the old fashioned three-point play at the free throw line. Junior guard Alexas Williamson got in to the act with a runner in the lane, Awa added a pair of free throws and Galdeira capped the run with a steal and wide open layup.
Following a Utah three, Galdeira started to heat up, knocking down a pair of threes, the first from the left corner and the second from the right wing that pushed the Cougar lead to six at the 7:16 mark. Both teams traded baskets in the final minutes of the half before Utah used a three to send Cougars into the break leading 26-24. Galdeira led WSU with 10 points through the first 20 minutes.
Washington State used some pressure defense in the opening minutes of the first half to spark an 11-2 run. Galdeira started the run with jumper from the left elbow, Presley followed with a steal and layup and Cooks knocked down a baseline jumper. After a Utah basket, Galdeira dropped off a pass to Awa for a fastbreak layup, Hailey hit a free throw and Presley capped the streak with a driving layup.
Utah battled back to cut the WSU lead to six but Presley answered with a drive for a bucket as she was fouled and went on to hit the free throw. Galdeira then drilled a three on the next possession to push the lead to 49-39. Minutes later, the lead grew to 12 after Galdeira leaped high over two Utah post players to tip in an offensive rebound and sophomore forward Ivana Kmetovska scored on the next possession from the low post.
The Utes didn't go away, making one last push with a 7-0 run that cut the Cougar lead to five but Presley came up with another big play, working hard underneath grab an offensive rebound. Presley was fouled after getting the rebound and sank both free throws to put Washington State back up by seven and spoil the Utah comeback attempt. WSU went on to seal things up at the free throw line.
Washington State will renew its rivalry with the University of Washington next week, facing the Huskies in Seattle Friday at 7:30 p.m. and then hosting UW next Sunday at 1 p.m. Both games will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.
