BROOKINGS, S.D. (December 5, 2023) – Washington State women's basketball moved past South Dakota State, 69-64, Tuesday night.

The Cougars improve to 10-1 for the fourth time in program history, and the first time since the 1978-79 season.

WSU forced 18 turnovers while going 17-of-24 on free throws and shooting 45.1 percent from the field.

Astera Tuhina led the team in scoring for the second straight game with 18 points to go with her four rebounds and two assists.

Bella Murekatete had a team-high seven rebounds along with 15 points, three steals and a block.

Eleonora Villa kept shooting as she finished with 13 points, four steals, three rebounds and two assists.

Tara Wallack was the fourth Cougar in double-digit scoring, totaling 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.

Charlisse Leger-Walker had four points, four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

The Cougars started hot, opening with an 11-2 lead behind a three from E. Villa, and shots from Murekatete, Leger-Walker and Wallack. SDSU kept the game within striking distance before a pair of Murekatete layups gave WSU their first double-digit lead of the game, 17-7, entering the final minute of the first.

Into the second quarter, the Jackrabbits would twice draw back to within three. Murekatete continued to hit big shots, though, adding five straight points for the Cougars to close out the first half and give the team a 30-24 lead at halftime.

Out of the locker room, six early free throws helped WSU extend back out to a 10-point lead, 38-28, midway through the third. Teams went back-and-forth the rest of the period with threes from Eleonora and Jenna Villa down the stretch to send the game into the fourth with the Cougars holding a 48-40 advantage.

SDSU continued to not show any quit, drawing back to within one possession, 52-49, before making it a 1-point game as the clock ticked under five minutes. But that was as close as they would get before back-to-back buckets from Tuhina and Wallack gave the Cougars more breathing room down the stretch.

Leading 64-58 with 40 seconds to go, WSU connected on five free throws, including a 3-of-4 showing from Tuhina, to seal the 69-64 victory.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Charlisse Leger-Walker

• Scored four points to push her career point total to 1,607, fourth all-time in WSU career scoring
• One made field goal pushed her career total to 558, seventh-most in WSU history
• Played 36 minutes to push her career total to 3,452, fourth-most in WSU history, 509 minutes from breaking the school record

Bella Murekatete

• Grabbed seven rebounds to push career rebound total to 817, fourth-most in WSU history and 83 away from breaking the school record
• Made career start number 120, second-most in WSU history and five starts from breaking the school record
• Was also game number 128, tied for third-most in WSU history and eight games away from breaking the school record

UP NEXT
The Cougars return to Beasley this weekend to open Pac-12 play as the Cougars are set to host Washington this Sunday, Dec. 10. Tip-off in this Boeing Apple Cup Series matchup is set for 1 p.m. PT and will air live on the Pac-12 Network.

FOLLOW US
For more information on the Washington State women's basketball team, follow @WSUCougarWBB on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.