WASHINGTON ST. (9-13, 2-8) at Arizona (5-16, 1-9)
5 p.m. PT | Friday | Feb. 2, 2018
Tucson, Ariz. | McKale Center (14,644)
MATCHUP NOTES
The Cougs hit the road to Arizona to take on Arizona and Arizona State this week. The matchups will be the only regular season contests between the teams this season due to the unbalanced schedule in Pac-12 play. WSU starts off in Tucson against Arizona looking to snap a two-game skid against the Wildcats after Arizona won both meetings last season including a 56-55 decision in Tucson. The game in Tucson was the first for the Cougs after losing starting point guard
Chanelle Molina for the season at Tempe two days prior. Arizona is 35-27 all-time against WSU including holding the slight 16-13 edge in Tucson.
LAST TIME OUT
Battling another top-15 team, the Cougars (9-13, 2-8 Pac-12) fought until the bitter end, but ultimately fell to No. 13/12 UCLA (17-4, 8-2 Pac-12), 79-71, Sunday afternoon in Beasley Coliseum. Early on, the Cougs looked like primed to pull off another upset of the Bruins on the Palouse as WSU came out on fire, hitting 60.0% of their shots in the opening 10 minutes and closing the first quarter with a 14-2 run that pushed the lead Cougars' lead to 20-13. Leading by as much as 10 early in the second quarter, the Cougs' offense would stall as a handful of turnovers allowed the Bruins to run their way back into the contest ultimately taking a four point lead in the halftime break thanks to a six-minute, 16-4 run. After tying the game in the first minute of the second half, the Cougs would see UCLA create some separation once again behind an 8-0 run that knocked the Cougs on their heels. WSU would claw back into the game, trailing by just two possessions with 2:23 to play, but the six-point Bruin lead would hold as UCLA knocked down nine of 12 free-throws in the final 1:20 to secure the victory.
ABOUT THE WILDCATS
In a season of transition under first year head coach Adia Barnes, the Wildcats have struggled entering the week 1-9 in Pac-12 play and 5-16 overall. Arizona picked up its first Pac-12 win over Colorado in Tucson two weeks ago, beating the Buffs 72-63. Overall, the Wildcats have struggled to find their offense on the year averaging just 60.2 points per game. The lack of offense is not due to the efforts of JaLea Bennett who is averaging 14.2 ppg while Sam Thomas in the paint has posted 10.1 ppg and 7.8 rpg. As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 36.5% from the floor while allowing 69.9 ppg.
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