In Case You Missed It
PULLMAN, Wash. – A swarming defense that created chaos and a fast-paced offensive attack became the recipe to a decisive victory as Washington State (5-4) ran past Saint Louis (4-6), 85-63, Monday night at Beasley Coliseum. Leading wire-to-wire, the Cougs played their most complete game of the young season, crushing a Billikens team that held off a late rally by the Cougs last season in Saint Louis. The Cougs opened the game on a 9-1 run and never looked back as WSU steadily increased its advantage throughout the 40-minutes of fury, pushing their lead to as much as 28-points midway through the fourth quarter before settling for the 22-point victory. The big run that finally put the game in the books came over a four-minute span late in the third quarter when the Cougs used a 15-4 run to turn a comfortable 13-point lead into a 24-point advantage. During the run, the Cougs got a balanced effort out of their effort with
Alexys Swedlund scoring five of the 15 while
Borislava Hristova added three of her quarter-high nine. The Billikens would get the lead under 20 just once with a small spurt to end the quarter before a 7-0 start for the Cougs to the fourth, including another five-point burst from Swedlund, shattered any Saint Louis dreams of a miracle comeback.
Stat of the Game
The Cougs turned 19 Billikens turnovers into 23 points while committing a season-low seven turnovers that led to just two points.
Moments of the Game
Things You Need To Know
- The Cougs held serve in the all-time series with the Billikens, winning at home after Saint Louis took the first-ever matchup between the two sides at home last season.
- WSU has now won a season-best four-straight games to match their season-best win streak, set in the WNIT, from a season ago.
- The Cougs scored a season-high 85 points on a season-best 47.8% (33-69) shooting.
- Borislava Hristova picked up her 15th career 20+ point scoring effort while leading the Cougs in scoring for the seventh time in nine contest.
- Three Cougs scored in double-figures with Hristova (21) joined by Alexys Swedlund (13) and Chanelle Molina (11).
- Saint Louis put three in double-figures: Paige Rakers (14), Jenny Vliet (12), Aaliyah Covington (12). However, the Cougs Jackie Kemph, SLU's leading scoring and the two-time A10 Player of the Year, to just eight points on 3-of-8 shooting.
- WSU finishes its three-game home stand Wednesday, Dec. 6 when the Cougs and Gonzaga continue their rivalry. The game is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Beasley Coliseum.
