WASHINGTON STATE (0-0, 0-0 WCC) vs. EASTERN WASHINGTON (0-0, 0-0 BIG SKY)
Monday, Nov. 4 // 4 p.m. PT
Pullman, Wash. // Beasley Coliseum
Watch | ESPN+
Listen | Pullman Radio KQQQ, 1150 AM (Steve Grubbs pXp)
Live Stats | Statbroadcast


Washington State women's basketball will host Eastern Washington in the team's 2024-25 season opener on Monday, Nov. 4. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with tipoff at 4 p.m.

NEXT UP
WSU hits the road to continue their non-conference slate at Stanford on Thursday, Nov. 7. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra at 7 p.m.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Last season, WSU opened with its first-ever appearance in the Preseason Associated Press Top 25 Poll, appearing at No. 24 in the preseason poll, and went on to finish 21-15 for the program's first ever back-to-back 20-win season. WSU ranked as high as 21 in the 2023-24 season, a ranking that set a program record for the highest ranking in the AP Top 25 Poll in program history. The 2023-24 season also saw the Cougars defeat No. 2/4 UCLA, becoming the highest-ranked team Washington State had ever defeated in program history. In the postseason, the Cougs earned the No. 1 seed in the inaugural WBIT and advanced to the semifinals in Indianapolis.

This year, although having to replace some key players from the 2023-24 season, the core remains the same with three starters returning, including senior Tara Wallack, junior Astera Tuhina, and sophomore Eleonora Villa. Along with returning letterwinners Jenna Villa, Alex Covill and Kyra Gardner, Coach Ethridge and the staff have supplemented the strong nucleus with six newcomers, a junior transfer and five incoming freshmen.

SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 39th meeting all-time between WSU and EWU, with the Cougars holding a 27-11 edge dating back to 1971. After losing the first ever game in 1971, the Cougars won the next 11 straight (1972-1977) and then later had an 8-game win streak against the Eagles from 1985-1999. WSU won their most recent matchup in 2020 and has won three of their last four games.

RECORD BOOK CLIMBERS AND MILESTONE CHASERS
>>    The first game this season on Nov. 4 will be Tara Wallack's 100th career game.
>>    Astera Tuhina is 2 points away from 500 for her career, and 24 assists away from 200.
>>    Tara Wallack is tied for seventh all-time at WSU with 101 career blocks.
>>    Wallack is also 150 points away from 1,000 for her career, and 66 rebounds away from 500
>>    Eleonora Villa is 37 points away from the 500 career milestone.
>>    Head Coach Kamie Ethridge is 5 wins away from 100 at Washington State, 22 from 200 career wins

FANTASTIC FRESHMAN SEASON FOR ELE VILLA
Eleonora Villa had an incredible start to her collegiate career as she put together one of the best freshman seasons in WSU history last year. Among all-time freshman seasons at WSU E. Villa ranks second in total points (463), eighth in FG% (.436), seventh in 3PT% (.342), second in consecutive double-digit scoring games (13), first in total double-digit scoring games (29), eighth in points per game (12.9), second in made field goals (179), third in made threes (54), and first in minutes (1,199).

COUGS IN THE RANKINGS
The Cougs look to climb back into the rankings this season after having been ranked as high as number 21 last year. WSU was picked to finish second by the WCC coaches and media, the best preseason pick in program history after being picked fifth ahead of the 2023-24 (Pac-12) and 1991-92 (Pac-10) seasons.

ETHRIDGE INKS EXTENSION
WSU Director of Athletics Anne McCoy announced this past April that Ethridge has signed a one-year contract extension keeping her in Pullman through the 2029-30 season. "Since her arrival in 2018, Kamie has solidified Washington State women's basketball as a destination where student-athletes can receive a world-class education while competing at the highest levels," said McCoy. "Her leadership has resulted in historic seasons for WSU, including this most recent campaign when WSU reached the postseason for the fourth-consecutive year, marking another program first. We are thrilled Kamie shares the same love and passion for Washington State that so many of us do and excited she will be leading our program for many years to come." Coach Ethridge has continued to raise the bar every season she has been on the Palouse. The Hall of Famer has brought her winning ways to Pullman, quickly elevating the WSU women's basketball program into the upper echelon of the college women's basketball landscape. Ethridge has guided Washington State to four straight postseason tournament appearances, and its first back-to-back 20-win seasons.

Fans wishing to purchase tickets for the 2024-25 women's basketball season can click on the link HERE, visit wsucougars.com to order online, or call the WSU Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-GO-COUGS.

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