TEMPE, Ariz. – The Washington State women's basketball team heads to the Grand Canyon State this weekend for a two-game Pac-12 Conference road trip. The Cougars kick off their excursion through the desert this Friday, Jan. 27, at Arizona State. Tip-off against the Sun Devils is set for 5 p.m. PT and will broadcast live on Pac-12 Network Washington.
WASHINGTON STATE (13-6, 3-5 Pac-12) at Arizona State (7-10, 0-8 Pac-12) | Friday, Jan. 27, 2023 | 5:00 p.m. PT | Desert Financial Arena
Live Stats | Click Here
Watch | Pac-12 Network Washington (Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini)
Listen | Click Here (Steve Grubbs)
Game Notes | Click Here
Starting Five
>> Washington State comes into this weekend's slate of Conference games looking to snap a two-game losing streak, as the Cougars dropped back-to-back home contests last weekend against Southern California and UCLA. WSU enters the week with a 13-6 record overall and a 3-5 mark in Pac-12 games.
>> The Cougars have been road warriors this season, as Washington State stands at 6-1 in true road games. One more road win for WSU this season would secure a winning record in road contests for the Cougs. It would mark the first time that the Cougars have posted a winning record on the road in consecutive seasons since the 1977-78 and 1978-79 campaigns.
>> WSU will be looking to extend its winning streak on the road to five games this Friday when the Cougars battle the Sun Devils in Tempe. Washington State has won each of its last four road games, which includes a sweep at Oregon State and then-No. 21/18 Oregon just less than two weeks ago. The last time Washington State won five straight on the road came during the 2014-15 season.
>> This Friday's matchup between Washington State and Arizona State will be the 68th all-time meeting between the two schools. ASU leads the all-time series 49-19, though WSU won the last meeting 65-58 on Feb. 18, 2022 at Beasley Coliseum to snap an 11-game losing streak to the Sun Devils.
>> The Cougs will be looking for their first win at Arizona State since Feb. 1, 2013. Coupled with last season's home win over the Sun Devils, Washington State will also be seeking back-to-back wins over ASU for the first time since the 2012-13 season when WSU swept the three-game season series Arizona State.
Game Coverage
Friday's game will be broadcast live on Pac-12 Network Washington with Cindy Brunson and Joan Bonvicini on the call. Fans can also listen to Steve Grubbs call all the action locally at 1150 AM or anywhere on WSUCougars.com.
NET Ranking
Washington State heads into this week's slate of games with a NET ranking of 44. The NET is an evaluation tool used by the NCAA Selection Committee to help determine at-large bids and tournament seeding.
Dynamic Duo
The duo of Charlisse Leger-Walker and Bella Murekatete are the only set of teammates in the Pac-12 to rank inside the top eight in field goals made this season. Murekatete currently ranks third in the Conference with 111 field goals made, while Leger-Walker's 106 made field goals is seventh.
Charlisse's Scoring Streak
Junior Charlisse Leger-Walker heads into the weekend having scored double-digit points in each of the last 16 games she has played in. Her 16-game double-digit scoring streak is the longest of her career and it is the 10th-longest scoring streak in program history.
Bella's Putting Up the Points
Charlisse Leger-Walker isn't the only Cougar with an elongated double-digit scoring streak, as senior Bella Murekatete is riding a seven-game streak of her own. Murekatete's current seven-game double-digit scoring streak is the longest of her career. The 6-3 post from Rwanda is averaging 15.1 points per game during the streak and has recorded three 20-point games.
Teder's Moving into the Top-10
Senior Johanna Teder needs to make one more 3-point field goal to move into a tie for 10th on WSU's all-time 3-point field goals made list. Teder currently has made 129 3-pointers during her Washington State career, just one shy of April Cook (130; 2008-12). Teder needs to make four more 3-point field goals to move past Heather Norman (133; 1988-92). Earlier this season, junior Charlisse Leger-Walker moved into the top 10 of WSU's all-time 3-point field goals made list and she is now fifth all-time with 151 career made 3-pointers.
Bella Boards
Senior Bella Murekatete recently entered the top 10 in program history in rebounds, as the 6-3 post player is now 10th in WSU women's basketball history with 625 career rebounds. This season, Murekatete is averaging 7.1 rebounds per game, which leads the team, and is the 10th-best rebounding average in the Pac-12 this season.
Scouting the Sun Devils
Arizona State comes into Friday's matchup against Washington State looking to snap an eight-game losing streak, though two of those losses were forfeits due to the Sun Devils not having enough healthy players to play against Utah and Colorado a few weeks ago. ASU is 7-10 overall this season and 0-8 in Pac-12 play.
The Sun Devils feature a trio of double-digit scorers, led by junior Tyi Skinner's 19.8 points per game. Skinner has scored double-figures in all but one game this season, which game in her most recent game, scoring eight points in a loss to Arizona. Junior Jaddan Simmons is putting up 12.8 points per contest, while junior Treasure Hunt is scoring 12.5 points per game. Hunt also leads the team in rebounds at 7.1 caroms per game.
ASU is putting up 68.1 points per game this season while shooting 36.7 percent from the field. The Sun Devils have struggled a bit from behind the arc this year, as they are only connecting on 28.9 percent on 3-point field goals. Defensively, Arizona State is giving up 74.5 points per game. Teams are shooting 43.6 percent from the floor against ASU this season while shooting 31.5 percent from behind the arc.
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