PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women's basketball team returns to the friendly confines of Beasley Coliseum this Monday, Nov. 28, as the Cougars host South Dakota State. Tip-off against the Jackrabbits is set for 7 p.m. PT.
WASHINGTON STATE (4-1, 0-0 Pac-12) vs. South Dakota State (4-2, 0-0 Summit) | Monday, Nov. 28, 2022 | 7 p.m. | Beasley Coliseum
Live Stats | WSUCougars.com
Watch | Pac-12 Insider/WSU Live Stream (Steve Grubbs)
Listen | WSU Radio (Steve Grubbs)
Game Notes | Click Here
Starting Five
>> The Cougars return to action after a week away from action due to the Thanksgiving break. Washington State is 4-1 through five games this season, which marks the fourth-straight season that WSU has opened a campaign at 4-1.
>> WSU will be looking to make it two wins in a row after the Cougars picked up an 87-72 win over Troy last Monday, Nov. 21, to win the 2022 North Shore Showcase in Laie, Hawai'i. Senior Bella Murekatete had a double-double with a career-high 22 points and 16 rebounds.
>> Washington State will be seeking its 10th-straight non-conference win at home this Sunday. The current nine-game winning streak dates back to the 2019-20 season. WSU is 16-4 against non-conference foes inside Beasley Coliseum under Head Coach Kamie Ethridge.
>> WSU will be seeking its first win against South Dakota State. The Cougars are 0-3 against the Jackrabbits in a series that dates back to Dec. 7, 2010, when SDSU last visited Pullman. The last time Washington State and South Dakota State played on the hardwood came on Nov. 11, 2012, at the Best Buy Classic in Minnesota, with SDSU claiming the 65-56 win in overtime.
>> Junior Charlisse Leger-Walker has been one of the most prolific scorers in the NCAA since her arrival from New Zealand in the 2020-21 campaign. This season has been no different, as Leger-Walker enters Monday's having scored the 21st-most points in NCAA Division I this season with 110 points scored through five games. Her 22.0 points per game average are the 15th-highest in the NCAA and tops in the Pac-12.
Game Coverage
Monday's season-opening contest against South Dakota State will be streamed live for free on Pac-12 Plus and the WSU Live Stream. Fans can follow the action via live stats on WSUCougars.com.
Collecting Double-Doubles
Senior Bella Murekatete has been a force in the paint of late, and it has resulted in the 6-3 center posting two double-doubles over her last three games.
Her first double-double came inside Beasley Coliseum back on Nov. 13 with an 11-point, 11-rebound effort. Murekatete then took it to another level on Nov. 21 in the final game of the North Shore Showcase, as she matched her career-best in points and rebounds with a 22-point, 16-rebound in a win over Troy.
Getting Production All-Around
Washington State had five Cougs scored in the win over Troy. Senior Bella Murekatete led the way with 22 points, sophomore Tara Wallack tallied 17 points, both junior Charlisse Leger-Walker and freshman Astera Tuhina each scored 14 points, and senior Johanna Teder chipped in 12 points. It was the first time since Feb. 15, 2019 in a win over Washington in Beasley Coliseum.
Bringing Home Hardware Back from Hawai'i
Washington State captured the title at the 2022 North Shore Classic this past Monday, Nov. 21, after the Cougars defeated Troy, 87-72. With WSU, BYU, and Troy each going 1-1 on Oahu, the Cougars were able to clinch the team title due to having the largest margin of victory.
Junior Charlisse Leger-Walker was named the 2022 North Shore Showcase's Most Valuable Player. The guard from Waikato, New Zealand averaged 17.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game on Oahu. Bella Murekatete was also selected to the 2022 North Shore Showcase All-Star team, as she averaged 14.0 points 9.0 rebounds, and 3.0 blocks per game.
Making It Tough for Foes from Deep
Washington State has held the opposition to a 20.8 shooting percentage from behind the arc this season. That mark is the 17th-best defensive 3-point shooting percentage in all of NCAA Division I.
Scouting the Jackrabbits
South Dakota State comes into Monday's matchup against Washington State with a 4-2 record through six games this season. SDSU went 2-1 at the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas ending the trip with a 65-55 win over then No. 6-ranked Louisville. South Dakota State is the reigning WNIT Champion, after winning the tournament last season.
Redshirt senior Myah Selland leads a trio of double-digit scorers for the Jackrabbits at 16.7 points per game. She scored a season-high 25 points in the win over Louisville her last time out. Sophomore Haleigh Timmer is putting up 10.5 points per game, while junior Tori Nelson is chipping in 10.0 points per contest.
SDSU is averaging 71.33 points per game while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. Opponents are scoring 66.0 points per contest and shoots 40.6 percent from the field.
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