SANTA CLARA, Calif. (January 29, 2026) – Washington State women's basketball showed fight on both ends and continued to generate quality looks throughout the night, but Santa Clara's shooting depth proved decisive as the Cougars fell 102-71 Thursday evening at the Leavey Center.

The Cougars (4-19, 3-7 WCC) finished the night forcing turnovers, generating second-chance points, and competing through the final horn, continuing to attack and defend with energy despite the result.

Eleonora Villa ended with 18 points, five assists and a steal, while Mackenzie Chatfield scored a season-high 11 to go with four rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Alex Covill scored 10 points, and grabbed five boards and a block. Charlotte Abraham tallied five rebounds, four assists and two steals, and Keandra Koorits had eight points and a steal.

WSU opened the game with active ball pressure and early paint touches, trading scores with Santa Clara through the opening stretch. Charlotte Abraham set the tone defensively, creating turnovers that fueled transition chances, while Mackenzie Chatfield and Alex Covill anchored Washington State on the interior. WSU stayed within striking distance for much of the first half, using offensive rebounds and second-chance opportunities to counter Santa Clara's perimeter shooting.

Santa Clara began to separate late in the half behind a series of timely threes, but Washington State continued to answer. Eleonora Villa and Tanja Valancic provided perimeter sparks, and the Cougars closed the half competing possession by possession to stay engaged heading into the break.

Coming out of halftime, Washington State delivered one of its strongest stretches of the night. After Santa Clara struck first, Abraham jumped a passing lane for a steal, leading to a Chatfield pull-up jumper. Following another stop, Covill converted a putback off an offensive rebound, trimming the margin and forcing the Broncos to reset.

Valancic connected from deep midway through the third quarter, and Villa later drilled a transition three off an offensive rebound as Washington State continued to pressure the ball and attack downhill. The Cougars forced multiple turnovers during the stretch, but Santa Clara countered with efficient shooting to maintain control entering the fourth.

Washington State continued to battle early in the final period. Abraham scored on a strong drive after tracking down an offensive rebound, while Malia Ruud and Keandra Koorits extended possessions with relentless work on the glass. Marta Alsina added a driving layup midway through the quarter, and Chatfield converted at the free-throw line following another defensive stop.

Despite Washington State's continued effort — including a late three from Alsina and a Ruud finish inside off a Malvina Haziri assist — Santa Clara's shooting depth down the stretch pushed the margin wider in the closing minutes.


Notes

• Eleonora Villa's 18 points puts her at 1,332 career points, 13th in program history and one from 12th (1,333).
• Villa extends to 134 career made threes, 10th all-time at WSU.
• Villa made eight field goals, totaling 524 for her career, 13 from top-10 all-time at WSU (537).
• Now at 3,135 career minutes played, Villa is 188 from top-10 all-time at WSU (3,323).
• Alex Covill's one rejection put her at 139 career blocks, sixth all-time in program history and eight from moving up to fifth.
• Covill's five boards puts her at 234 career rebounds, 16 away from 250.
• Covill's 10 points moves her to 436 career points, 64 from 500.
• Charlotte Abraham's four points puts her at 407 career points, 93 away from 500.
• Abraham's five rebounds put her at 149 for the season, 88 away from top-10 all-time at WSU in a single-season (237).
• Abraham also now has 236 career rebounds, 14 from 250.

Up Next
The Cougars will hurry back home to host Gonzaga on Saturday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. The games will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Trevor Williams and Ernie Kent on the call.

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).