LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Sophomore Borislava Hristova led the Washington State women's basketball team with a season-best 25 points, but the Cougars could not finish off their upset bid of No. 5/6 Maryland on Saturday at the South Point Thanksgiving Shootout. UMD (6-0) used a late game run to dispatch WSU (4-2), 79-69, to take home the tournament title in the desert.

Hristova's best effort of the season earned her a spot on the Shootout All-Tournament team as the second-year gunner finished the contest 11-for-19 from the floor. It was her second 20+ scoring effort of the year and the 11th of her career. She was one of two Cougars to reach double-figures in the game as freshman Chanelle Molina added 10 for her second double-digit scoring effort of the season. 

The Cougs' scoring duo though were trumped by a quartet of Terrapins led by Brionna Jones who finished the night with 20 points and 20 rebounds before fouling out late in the fourth quarter. Kaila Charles would add 19 points while Shatori Walker-Kimbrough had 15 and Destiny Slocum chipped in 11. 

In what proved to be a tight battle throughout that saw 12 lead changes, the difference in the contest came down to the final few minutes when the Terrapins were able to use a 10-2 run to break open what was a tie game at 61-61 with 4:47 to play. After a pair of free throws for the Terrapins started the run, is was a Slocum three with 2:27 remaining that seemed to be the tipping point for UMD during the final push. In all, the Terrapins would outscore the Cougars 18-8 over the final 4:47 of the contest including tallying 13 points from the charity stripe during the streak.

In all, the Cougars had their chances throughout the game as they led by as much as six in the first quarter while holding their final lead just seconds into the fourth quarter. However, the Cougars struggles at the free throw line reared its ugly head as WSU was just 7-of-21 from the line in the game while the Terrapins knocked down 27-of-38 free throws including a 9-for-9 showing from Walker-Kimbrough. The Cougs out-rebounded the nation's top rebounding team, 47-to-44, but UMD was able to do more with their rebounds as 15 offensive board turned into 19 second-chance points compared to just nine for WSU on 20 offensive boards. Junior Caila Hailey came up with the Cougars' best efforts on the glass as she grabbed nine to go along with nine points, four assists, and four steals.

The Cougars will look to rebound back home in Pullman on Friday, Dec. 2 against San Diego. The Toreros will be the fourth West Coast Conference opponent for Washington State in non-conference play. The Cougars are 3-0 against the WCC to date.