Cougs Set to Begin the New Year Against Colorado Friday

Friday, January 5

Pullman, WA

8:00 PM

Washington State University

Colorado

Photo by: Samuel Marshall - Pac-12 Conference

January 03, 2018 | Women's Basketball

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The rivalry renews Friday at Beasley with an 8 p.m. tip.

By: Athletic Communications

COLORADO (10-3, 1-1) vs WASHINGTON ST. (7-7, 0-2)
8 p.m. | Friday | Jan. 5, 2018
Pullman, Wash. | Beasley Coliseum (11,671)

MATCHUP NOTES
Opening the new year at home, the Cougs host Colorado Friday night at Beasley Coliseum. WSU and Colorado played three times in 2017 (WSU was 2-1) with the two teams meeting up in the first round of the Pac-12 tournament in a game the Cougs won 79-78 to advance to the second round. WSU came back from 14 down in the first quarter and held on late to take the victory. Prior to the Pac-12 tournament game, the Cougs downed the Buffaloes at home to end the regular season, 67-56, in a game in which WSU set a program record with 14 blocks, 12 of which came from a record-setting performance from Nike McClure. All-time the Cougars are 8-5 against Colorado including a 4-1 record in Pullman.

LAST TIME OUT
Despite a season-best 17 points out of Chanelle Molina, the Cougars (7-7, 0-2 Pac-12) could not keep a hot start going on the road as No. 17/17 Oregon State (11-2, 2-0 Pac-12) pulled away for a 71-53 victory Sunday afternoon at Gill Coliseum. For the Cougs, the game was a tale of two halves as an ice-cold second half ended any chance of an upset after taking a two-point lead into the halftime locker room. Trailing by just one midway through the third quarter, WSU went nearly nine minutes of game time without a field goal before Alexys Swedlund, who posted 13 points in the loss, hit a three from the left wing with 5:25 to play in the game. With the Cougs' shots not falling, the Beavers went on a 16-4 run, including 11 points from Marie Gulich, that put Washington State down 57-43 in the waning minutes of the contest. From there, the two sides trade baskets while Oregon State hit its free throws to finish off the contest.

ABOUT THE BEAVERS
Entering the game, Colorado is 10-3 and 1-1 in Pac-12 play after defeating Arizona last week to pick up its first conference win of the season. Leading the way for the Buffaloes is Kennedy Leonard who has posted 14.6 points per game. She is coming off of a double-double (16 pts, 10 ast) against Arizona last week. Freshman Annika Jank has put herself in contention for freshman of the year in the Pac-12 having posted 13.5 points and 8l2 rebounds through 13 games. As a team, the Buffaloes average 77.5 points per game while allowing 62.7 points per game to their opponents.

IN THE TWITTERVERSE

Don't forget to sign up so you can reserve your spot in the ?? CPR class! #GoCougs

??? >> https://t.co/QkTgkuSTlG
?? >> https://t.co/MSHiY8YhFk https://t.co/MJJyqP0uus
— WSU Cougars (@WSUCougars) January 2, 2018

@NikeMcClure why you so mean https://t.co/Fqk2ltDMl3
— Romello Harris (@melohype6) January 2, 2018

Happy New Year!! Thanks to our tremendous fans waiting for us on our return to ring in the new year. #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/7jWWAwbwJ3
— WSU Women's Hoops (@WSUWomensHoops) January 1, 2018

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