ST. THOMAS, USVI – Senior Borislava Hristova tallied a game-high 16 points against No. 17/23 Indiana on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn't enough to overcome a cold shooting night from the floor for the Washington State University women's basketball team, as the Cougars dropped their final contest at the Paradise Jam, 78-44.

Hristova got her night started with a bang, as she scored as she scored seven of WSU's first 13 points to help the Cougs jump out to a 13-7 lead midway through the first. The forward shot an even 50 percent from the field against a stingy Hoosier defense (7-of-14) and flittered with a double-double by pulling down a team-best eight rebounds.

The loss against No. 17/23 Indiana marks the third-straight loss to a ranked opponent for the Cougars at the 2019 Paradise Jam, as they fall to 4-3 overall on the season.

Freshman Bella Murekatete shined for the Cougars off the bench, by tying her career high in points with 10 in a career-high 16 minutes played. The 6-5 center also pulled down a career-best seven boards.

Senior Chanelle Molina hit a three at the 4:05 mark of the first to give the Cougs a 16-13 lead. That would be the last time WSU held an advantage in the game, as Indiana closed out the frame on an 11-2 run to take a 24-18 lead into the second quarter.

Washington State pulled to within three of the Hoosiers at 31-28 after a Hristova jumper with 5:35 left in the second. From that point, Indiana rolled off 14-straight points to end the quarter to take a 45-28 lead into the locker room.

Indiana continued to put pressure on Washington State in the third and fourth quarters, as they outscored WSU 33-16 in the final pair of frames to hand the Cougars a 34-point defeat.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Cougs this week, as they return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 4, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Beasley Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. Fans can purchase tickets at WSUCougars.com

COUG QUOTES
Coach Ethridge on Tonight's Performance: "I think we're a really tired team. I'm really happy and proud with how our team came out and performed. It was everything that we talked about before the game, we ran our (plays) really well and moved the ball easily, but I think what happened was a perfect storm. We ran into a hot Indiana team that is hitting shots and I think we did a great job at slowing them down in the second half. They were on pace for 90 points at the break, and they only got 78. But we just can't put the ball into the basket right now, and we've got to be able to find more production from everyone else other than Chanelle and Bobi.

Coach Ethridge on Playing Three-Straight Ranked Opponents: "I basically think we just got done playing three-straight top-10 teams down here. I believe that Indiana is going to be in the top-10-or-12 before long. Our team just saw the very best in the country and on top of that, I think we saw the best two defensive teams in the country in Baylor and South Carolina. We knew what we were coming to face down here, we saw what we needed to get better at. Chanelle went out and showed that she can play at an unbelievably high level. We just have to season-up our freshman post and have to get Bobi better looks moving forward. I'm really encouraged by what we saw from our team, our whole point of coming down here was to grow and to find ways to get better, and I think we'll do that.

COUG NOTES
- Senior Borislava Hristova posted her sixth double-digit scoring effort of the year tonight with 16 points against Indiana. The forward also collected her third game of the season with a field goal percentage of 50%-or-better.

- Senior Chanelle Molina ended the Paradise Jam with 49 points in three games, for an average of 16.3 point per game. The guard entered tonight's play as the Tournament's leading scorer at 21.0 points per game.

- Freshman Bella Murekatete set career highs in points (10), field goal attempts (6), free throws (6), rebounds (7) and minutes played (16).

- Washington State crashed the offensive glass hard against the Hoosiers, as they grabbed 11 offensive caroms against the Hoosiers. In total, WSU and IU were even on the boards tonight at 36-all.

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