ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands (November 28, 2025) – Washington State women's basketball delivered its most composed late-game performance of the young season Friday night, surging past Miami (OH) 71-67 at the Elridge Wilburn Blake Sports & Fitness Center.
The Cougars (1-6, 0-0 WCC) outscored the RedHawks 23-20 in the fourth quarter, flipping a tight game with poised half-court execution and timely shot-making. WSU finished with 16 assists on 25 made field goals and forced 15 Miami turnovers — converting them into 23 points, one of the decisive statistical edges.
Eleonora Villa powered the offense all night, pouring in a career-high 25 points on an efficient 10-of-17 shooting clip, including four treys.
Charlotte Abraham added a career-best 18 points while shooting 5-of-6 from the field and a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe.
WSU also controlled the paint with a balanced interior effort, as
Malia Ruud battled for seven rebounds and six points, while
Tanja Valancic chipped in eight points, including a pair of driving finishes that halted Miami runs.
Defensively, the Cougars frustrated Miami's rhythm at key moments, holding the RedHawks to 14 points in the second quarter while building a 33-26 halftime lead. Though Miami mounted a push after the break, WSU repeatedly answered with turnovers forced at the top of the key and strong defensive rebounding.
With the game tied entering the final minutes, WSU's veteran composure took over. Villa broke the tie with a straight-on three, Abraham knifed to the rim for another bucket, and the Cougars iced the night at the free-throw line, finishing 15-of-19 at the free throw line.
Notes
- Eleonora Villa's 25 points puts her at 1,052 career points, 21st in program history.
- Villa has 110 career made threes, 23 away from joining the WSU all-time top-10 list.
- Villa also has 418 career made field goals, 82 from 500.
- At 2,547 career minutes played, Villa is 453 away from 3,000 and 776 from top-10 all-time at WSU.
- Head Coach Kamie Ethridge earned her 200th career win as a head coach. Her 117 wins at WSU is 4th all-time among head coaches in program history.
- Alex Covill remains at 118 career blocks, seventh all-time in program history.
- Covill also has 198 career rebounds, 52 away from 250, and 337 career points, 163 from 500.
- Villa's 10 made field goals matched a career-high.
- Charlotte Abraham posted career-highs with 18 points and five made field goals.
- Marta Alsina matched a career-high with six rebounds, and set a career-best with four assists.
- Malvina Haziri has a career-high five assists.
- Malia Ruud matched a career-high with seven rebounds.
- Tanja Valancic tallied career-bests with eight points and four made field goals.
Up Next
The Cougars advance to tomorrow's 2025 Paradise Jam Reef Division championship game to take on tonight's winner between LSU and Marist, Saturday, Nov. 29 at 4:30 p.m. PT. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
Single-game tickets for the 2025-26 Women's Basketball season are on sale now. Fans wishing to purchase tickets 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 all the latest WSU women's basketball news, photos and videos, like the team on Facebook (facebook.com/WSUCougarWBB), or follow on Twitter (@WSUCougarWBB) and Instagram (@wsucougarwbb).
