LAS VEGAS – Washington State will begin its run at the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament this Wednesday, March 1, as the No. 7-seeded Cougars are set to take on No. 10-seed California in Las Vegas. Tip-off for this first-round matchup is set for 6 p.m. at the Michelob ULTRA Arena and will air live on the Pac-12 Network.
No. 7 seed WASHINGTON STATE (19-10, 9-9 Pac-12) vs. No. 10 seed California (13-16, 4-14 Pac-12) | Wednesday, March 1, 2023 | 6:00 p.m. PT | Michelob ULTRA Arena
Live Stats | Click Here
Watch | Pac-12 Network (Mary Murphy and Krista Blunk)
Listen | Click Here (Steve Grubbs)
Game Notes | Click Here
Starting Five
>> Washington State heads to Las Vegas as the No. 7 seed in the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament after the Cougars finished 9-9 in Pac-12 Conference play. The Cougars posted a 19-10 overall record during the regular season. The 19 wins tie a program record for the most wins in a season in the NCAA era (post-1982), matching last season's record-setting win total.
>> The Cougars head to Las Vegas with the program's single season wins record in sight. Washington State heads to Sin City with 19 wins on the season. A win in Vegas would give WSU its first 20-win season in the NCAA era, while two wins would tie the Cougars with the 1978-79 team for the program's record for most wins in a season with 21.
>> WSU has earned the No. 7 seed at the Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament, which began in 2002. Washington State has had its fair share of success as the No. 7 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament, as the Cougars are 5-4 all-time in that spot. The last time WSU was the No. 7 seed at the Pac-12 Tournament came during the 2020-21 NCAA Tournament season, where the Cougars won their first round game against No. 10 seed Utah (57-48) before falling to No. 2 seed Arizona (60-44) in the Quarterfinals.
>> The Cougars will face California at the Pac-12 Tournament for the fifth time at the Pac-12 Tournament. WSU is 1-3 all-time against the Golden Bears in the postseason, with the last meeting coming at the 2019 Pac-12 Tournament when California won a first-round matchup, 77-58, in Las Vegas. Washington State's lone postseason win against the Golden Bears came at the 2014 Pac-12 Tournament, with the Cougars scoring a 91-83 win in the quarterfinals.
>> WSU and Cal will be meeting for the 77th time on the hardwood this Wednesday. California holds the advantage in the all-time series, 48-28, though Washington State has won each of its last five games against the Golden Bears. Washington State is 1-3 all-time against California on a neutral court.
Game Coverage
Wednesday's Pac-12 Tournament contest against California will air be broadcast live on the Pac-12 Network with Mary Murphy and Krista Blunk on the call. Fans can listen to Steve Grubbs call all the action locally at 1150 AM or anywhere on WSUCougars.com.
Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament Information
For more information on the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament head to the Tournament Hub website. Fans wanting to purchase tickets to the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament can click the link here. All tournament games will air on the Pac-12 Network, with the exception of the championship game, which will air on ESPN2.
The winner of Wednesday's first-round matchup between No. 7 Washington State and No. 10 California will take on No. 2 seed Utah in the quarterfinals of the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament on Thursday, March 2, at 6 p.m. PT. Click here to view the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament bracket, which includes dates and times for all the games taking place at Michelob ULTRA Arena next week.
NET Ranking
Washington State heads into Saturday sporting a NET ranking of 38. The NET ranking is an evaluation tool used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine at-large bids and tournament seedings. Last season, the Cougars ended the season with a NET ranking of 58 and earned an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight season. WSU was a No. 8 seed in last season's NCAA Tournament.
Bella's Balling
Senior Bella Murekatete is in the midst of one of the best stretches of her WSU career, as the 6-3 post player is averaging 17.2 points per game over the last five games. The Butare Huye, Rwanda native is shooting an even 50 percent from the field during the five-game double-digit scoring streak. Her 17-point outing against Southern California last Saturday marked the eighth time this season that Murekatete has scored 17 or more points against a Pac-12 opponent.
Charlisse Dishing Out the Assists
Junior Charlisse Leger-Walker has dished out five or more assists in 14 games this season. The Cougars are 13-1 this season when Leger-Walker hands out at least five assists in a game.
Looking for a Third-Straight NCAA Tournament Bid
Washington State is in search of its third-straight at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament. The Cougars head to Las Vegas with a strong resume, as they hold a NET ranking of 39 and have collected three road wins over ranked opponents this season. An extended stay in next week's Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament would solidify a historic third-straight March Madness trip for the Cougs.
Ula Rack Up the Wins
Fifth-year senior Ula Motuga has become Washington State's all-time winningest player this season, as she has collected 70 total wins over five seasons with the Cougars. Motuga is currently utilizing her NCAA Eligibility Relief season due to the shortened 2020-21 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Scouting the Golden Bears
California comes into Las Vegas as the No. 10 seed at the 2023 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament after posting a 4-14 record in league play. The Golden Bears sport an overall record of 13-16 this season and hold a NET ranking of 80.
Sophomore Jayda Curry leads the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game. The guard has been blistering hot of late, as she has scored at least 26 points in each of her last three games. Redshirt sophomore Kemery Martin and senior Leilani McIntosh are each putting up 10.3 points per game this season, while senior Evelien Lutje Schipholt is putting up 9.2 points per contest.
Cal averages 68.7 points per game this season while shooting 42.1 percent from the floor. The Golden Bears are averaging 33.9 percent from behind the arc. Teams are putting up 74.8 against Cal this season, as the opposition is shooting 45.2 percent from the floor and 33.9 percent on 3-point shots against the Golden Bears.
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