Leger-Walker Heats Up, WSU Beats Gonzaga in Overtime

Thursday, November 9

Pullman, WA

7:00 PM

Washington State University

2-0,0-0Pac-12

Gonzaga

1-1,0-0WCC

OT 1

Gonzaga

Washington St.

November 09, 2023 | Women's Basketball

Box Score 2022-23 Pac-12 Champions Ring Ceremony/Banner Raising Game Highlights Full Game Replay Kamie Ethridge Postgame CLW/Astera Tuhina Postgame WSU-Gonzaga Final Book

By: Washington State Athletic Communications

PULLMAN, Wash. (November 9, 2023) – Senior guard Charlisse Leger-Walker scored 22 of her 26 points in the second half and overtime to lead No. 24 Washington State past visiting Gonzaga 77-72 in overtime at Beasley Coliseum Thursday. In the 32 previous meetings between the two programs, Thursday was the first that went into overtime.

Prior to the game, WSU handed out their rings and raised their 2023 Pac-12 Championship banner.

Leger-Walker went 9-for-9 at the free throw line, grabbed six rebounds and dished out four assists while guard Astera Tuhina matched a career-high with 15 points, freshman guard Eleonora Villa added 12 points and graduate transfer forward Beyonce Bea grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds and blocked three shots.

The Cougars (2-0) held Gonzaga (1-1) to seven points in the second quarter but the Bulldogs erased a double-digit deficit with a 24-point fourth quarter, hitting a straight away three at the end of regulation buzzer to send the game into overtime.

In the extra period, Tuhina hit a three from straight away to give WSU a four-point lead with 2:48 remaining and a driving layup from Bea the next trip down made it a three-point Cougar lead with just over two minutes remaining. The WSU defense locked in the final possessions, forcing a miss, Leger-Walker later made a steal and Bea grabbed a huge defensive rebound with 10 seconds to seal things up.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Charlisse Leger-Walker
- Recorded her 35^th career 20-point game, pushed her career point total to 1,497, passing Marcia Miles and Angie Miller for seventh on the all-time scoring list
Bella Murekatete
- Made career start No. 111, passing Katie Appleton for 4^th-most starts in WSU history

Astera Tuhina
- Matched career-highs in points (15) and field goals (6), 8^th career double-digit scoring effort

Beyonce Bea
- Recorded her 31^st career double-digit rebound game, pushed career rebound total to 906
- Pushed career point total to 1,955, appeared in her 118^th career game

UP NEXT
WSU will close out its season-opening three-game homestand Sunday against Idaho State at 2:30 p.m.