BOISE, Idaho – Senior Borislava Hristova collected her sixth career double-double on Wednesday night to help the Washington State University women's basketball team score an 80-68 road victory at Boise State.
Hristova, who is among 20 players in the nation on the 2020 Cheryl Miller Award Watch List, scored a season-high 25 points and pulled down a season-best 10 caroms to pace the Cougars. Her double-double helped the Cougs stay hot to open 2019-20, as tonight's victory gives WSU its first 3-0 start since the 2016-17 season.
The Bulgarian native nearly had a double-double through two quarters, as she entered the break with 15 points and nine rebounds. She was able to pull down the board on Boise State's final shot attempt of the night to post her first double-double of the season. Tonight's effort also gives Hristova her third-straight 20-plus-point performance to open the season, and she is now 198 points away from breaking Jeanne Eggart's (1977-82) program record of 1,967 points.
Redshirt junior Jovana Subasic followed up her first career double-double her last time out by establishing a new career-high in points with 17 off the bench. The forward hit an even 50% from the floor as she sank eight of her 16 field goal attempts. Senior Chanelle Molina also extended her double-digit scoring streak to three-straight games open the season with 12 points.
Defense was once again key for the Cougs, as they limited the Broncos to 38.1% from the floor, while WSU outrebounded Boise State, 36-30. Conversely, the Cougs continue to stay hot from the field to open 2019-20, as they hit 54.8% of their shots. Tonight's shooting performance marks the second time in three games this season that Washington State has hit over 50% from the floor.
The Cougs opened the contest on a 10-3 run and never looked back. Washington State's defense limited Boise State to just 17.6% (3-of-17) from the floor in the quarter and the Cougars closed out the frame hitting three-straight shots to take a 20-10 advantage after 10 minutes of play.
Washington State opened the second quarter with a Cherilyn Molina layup and a Hristova three-pointer to push its lead to 15, at 25-10, forcing BSU to call a timeout. Subasic extended the Cougars advantage midway through the quarter to 16 points with back-to-back buckets.
Boise State hit a three-pointer to open the third quarter, but Washington State would respond by draining six of its first seven shots in the frame to claim a 15-point advantage at 51-36 after a Chanelle Molina three. The Cougs played lockdown defense to close out the frame, as they held the Broncos off the scoreboard over 2:45 to take a 57-44 lead into the final quarter.
WSU stayed hot in the fourth by hitting their first six shots to take a 71-56 lead. Johanna Muzet's fast-break layup gave the Cougs a 17-pt advantage at 77-60, but BSU responded with eight-straight points to cut it the Cougar lead to nine at 77-68 with 1:15 remaining. That would be the final time Washington State allowed a Boise State field goal, as they collect the 12-point road victory.
COUG QUOTES
Head Coach Kamie Ethridge on Tonight's Win: "I thought that we were really gritty. When you look at the box score you keep going back to things that didn't happen for us a year ago. We only made five three-pointers, only get to the foul line seven times, had 17 turnovers and still found a way to get a 12-point road win. It just shows you that we made a lot of good decisions in the paint, again that was something we were not getting last year. I'm really proud that we were able to make good plays against a tough team that wasn't going to quit."
Coach Ethridge on Hristova's Double-Double: "I think Bobi is trying to do everything we're asking her to do. Obviously, a year ago she wasn't quite herself health wise, and she worked hard in the summer to overcome from that and it's showing in her play. She has a bit more explosiveness this season and she can manufacture points. With her scoring the way she did and carrying us in the first half is really impressive. She also defended well tonight, and when she gets a double-double it's a huge thing for us.
COUG NOTES
- With the victory, Washington State is off to its first 3-0 start since the 2016-17 season. The Cougs opened that season with three-straight victories en route to a berth into the Postseason WNIT, where WSU advanced all the way to the Final Four of the tournament. Each of the last two Washington State victories have come against teams that played in last season's NCAA Tournament.
- Redshirt junior Jovana Subasic set new career-high in points for the second-straight contest with 17 points against Boise State tonight. Subasic was coming off her first career double-double in the Nov. 9 win against BYU.
- Senior Borislava Hristova's 25-point performance gives the Bulgarian native her third-straight 20-plus-point scoring performance of the season and marks the 39th game in her career with 20-or-more points.
- With tonight's 12-point performance, senior Chanelle Molina has now opened the 2019-20 season with three-straight double-digit scoring games.
- Redshirt Johanna Muzet established a new season high in points tonight with nine.
- Tonight's victory breaks an eight-game losing streak on the road for Washington State. The last road victory was on December 30, 2018 at Washington.
Washington State returns to Beasley Coliseum on Sunday, November 24, when they take on CSUN. Tip-off against the Matadors is set for 12 p.m. PT.
