WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Cougs crush Dawgs by 33 points
WSU shot 60.7 percent from field in dominating performance
By AVERY COOPER, Evergreen Feb 16, 2019
WSU women’s basketball routed UW 94-61 on Friday night in
Beasley Coliseum to earn a season-sweep over the Huskies for the first time
since 2014.
The Cougars (9-16, 4-10) had their fourth-best shooting
effort in history, outshooting UW (8-17, 1-12) 60.7 percent to 37.1 percent.
WSU had 29 assists in the game, tied for the second most in
program history and the most since 1997.
“I loved how we shared the basketball,” WSU Head Coach Kamie
Ethridge said. “We made great decisions … it’s a beautiful thing.”
Six Cougars finished in double-digits. Junior guard Chanelle
Molina had a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists and redshirt junior
forward Borislava Hristova added 18 points, seven assists and five rebounds.
Redshirt junior forward Jovana Subasic and freshman forward
Ula Motuga had 12 points while senior guard Alexys Swedlund and senior center
Maria Kostourkova had 11 points.
“It was really fun today,” Hristova said. “If we follow the
offense, if we play good defense… that’s how we’re going to win games and
that’s how we’re going to build our culture.”
Ethridge had high praise for Molina.
“I think how [Molina] goes is kind of how we go,” Ethridge
said. “As important as [Hristova] is really important for us, I think when
we’ve struggled, [Molina] has had a bit of a lesser game. She’s just got a
complete game. She’s a very well-rounded scoring point guard and we need her
scoring.”
The Huskies jumped out to an early 9-4 lead in the first
quarter, before the Cougars went on a 15-4 run over 4:33 to finish the opening
period on top 19-13.
That’s when the Cougars picked up steam.
After narrowing the deficit to two points to start the second
quarter, the Huskies surrendered an 11-0 run to give WSU a 32-19 lead with 3:58
remaining in the first half. The Cougars outscored the Huskies 24-14 in the
second quarter to end the half up 43-27.
The Cougars shot an efficient 59.4 percent in the first
half, while the Huskies shot just 32.3 percent to open the game.
WSU carried its momentum into the third quarter where they
outscored the Huskies 23-13 and extended its lead to 26 to start the final
period.
In the fourth quarter, the Cougs outshot the Huskies 72.7
percent to 53.3 percent to secure the victory.
The Cougars 33-point win over the Huskies was their largest
in the series in the NCAA era.
WSU will now hit the road to face Colorado 6 p.m. Friday in
Boulder.
“People look at us and think we’re, very much, a winnable
game,” Ethridge said. “The good news for us … it just feels like our team has a
chance to keep getting better, and it is getting better.”
:::::::::::::
No Doubt, Cougars Dominate the Huskies
2/15/2019 WSU Women's Basketball from WSU Sports Info
PULLMAN -- In one of the most complete and dominating
performances in program history, Washington State (9-16, 4-10) crushed their
rivals from Washington (8-17, 1-12), 94-61, to complete the season sweep of the
Boeing Apple Cup Series Friday night at Beasley Coliseum. From start to finish,
the Cougars found a new level of sustained offensive excellence en route to the
33-point victory that was WSU's largest margin of victory over the Huskies in
the NCAA era. For WSU, a 8-1 run to end the first quarter swung the momentum to
the Cougars who hit their stride and never looked back. The late run was
spurred by Ula Motuga who scored five of her 10 first quarter points in the the
final three minutes as the freshman dominated the early minutes of the game as
the Huskies attempted to shut down the Cougars' veterans. With the lead in
hand, the Cougars blitzed the Huskies in the second quarter, spreading the ball
around and breaking the contest wide open with a 16-3 run that turned a
five-point lead into a comfortable 17-point advantage. Unlike their game in
Seattle just under two months prior, the Cougars would not take their foot off
the gas coming out of the locker room as WSU scored the first 11 points of the
new half to put down any thoughts of a late game comeback from the Huskies. WSU
would replicate their second quarter performance in the frame with a 23-13
quarter, taking a 26-point advantage into the games final period. As the lead
grew into the 30s the Cougars would finally call off the attack, as WSU went to
its bench to finish off the game. With their young Cougars in the game, WSU
would score 28 points in the final quarter, including a nine-point outburst
from freshman Shir Levy who did all of her damage in the game's final seven
minutes.
WSU Coach KAMIE ETHRIDGE Quote:
"Well obviously a great performance by our team. I look
at the stat sheet and kind of reflect, there's not a lot to complain about. I
mean I could pick something but I really don't want to. I just loved how we
shared the basketball. I loved how against a real kind of unique defense that
we haven't seen and haven't practiced against we made great decisions. We
shared the ball. We didn't force things. It's a beautiful thing when the ball
goes in like it did. You know when no one really shoots more than 10 times in a
game and yet you have these kind of numbers it says a lot about our how our
team played with one another and took what the defense gave us."
MORE INFO
WSU won back-to-back games for the third time on the year
and swept the Huskies in the season series for the first time since 2014. It
was just the second time since the mid 1970's the Cougars took both halves of
the Boeing Apple Cup Series.
The Cougars have scored 90+ points in back-to-back games for
the second time on the year. Prior to the early season effort WSU had never
accomplished the feat in program history.
The 33 point win was the largest for the Cougars in the
all-time series in the NCAA era and the most since 1975 when WSU won games by
42 and 36.
The Cougars shot a season-best 60.7% (34-56) from the floor,
the fourth-best single game percentage in WSU history. The last time the
Cougars shot over 60% from the field came in 1997 when WSU hit 63.8% (37-58) of
their shots against Southern Utah. The 60.7% was a program high for WSU in
Pac-12 play.
WSU dished out 29 assists on 34 made field goals. The 29
assists tied for the second-most in program history, one off of the record of
30 set in 1994. The 29 were the most since 1997.
WSU put six in double-figures including all five starters.
The last time five Cougars reached double-figures in a game was against Oregon,
Feb. 11, 2018.
Chanelle Molina and Borislava Hristova led the Cougars
attack with 18 points each as the duo combined to shoot 13-of-19 from the
field. In addition, the two combined for 17 assist with Molina grabbing her
second career double-double with 18 points and 10 assists. The seven assists
for Hristova were a career high.
Molina was nearly perfect on the night as the junior
finished the game with zero assists while adding four rebounds and four steals.
Behind the Cougars' dynamic duo, Ula Motuga and Jovana
Subasic each chipped in 12 points while the seniors Maria Kostourkova and
Alexys Swedlund finished with 11. Kostourkova added a team best nine rebounds
while Motuga grabbed a career-best seven rebounds and dished out six assists.
Shir Levy just missed making it seven players in double-figures as the freshman
scored nine points in seven fourth-quarter minutes.
Kostourkova moved into the program's top-10 for rebounds in
the game, finishing the night with 615 total rebounds.
WSU will hit the road for its final regular season roadtrip
beginning Friday, Feb. 22 at Colorado. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST
:::::::::::::::
WSU BASEBALL: WSU Pitcher Hayden Rosenkrantz Impressive But
Cougars Drop Finale at Saint Mary’s
Rosenkrantz Impressive But Cougars Drop Finale at Saint
Mary’s
From WSU Sports Info 2/17/2019
MORAGA, Calif. – Washington State starter Hayden Rosenkrantz
worked into the seventh inning but Saint Mary’s pulled away with some late
inning runs for a 9-1 win at Louis Guisto Field Sunday afternoon. Rosenkrantz
set career highs with six strikeouts and six-plus innings, allowed three earned
runs and scattered six hits in the series finale.
The day started by completing the second game of Saturday’s
doubleheader that was suspended due to darkness at the start of the eighth
inning. Saint Mary’s held off a Cougar rally in the ninth for a 6-3 victory in
game three of the series.
GAME 3 COMPLETION
In the first inning, Plew and Sinatro were each hit by a
pitch to start the game and Montez later pulled a pitch down the right field
line for a two-run double.
Saint Mary’s answered with a run in the bottom of the first,
added a pair of runs in the second inning before using three hits to score
three runs in the fourth inning for a 6-2 advantage.
The Cougar bullpen received a big boost from freshman
righthander Zane Mills who struck out five while recording 3.1 scoreless
innings of work.
In the eighth, WSU saw Plew and Sinatro each single but both
were stranded after the SMC bullpen enduced a pair of flyouts and a groundout.
In the ninth, the Cougars used a bloop-single from Rob Teel and three walks to
bring home a run but the Gaels ended the threat with a strikeout and groundout
to clinch the 6-3 win.
INSIDE THE GAME 3 BOX SCORE
Zane Mills made his collegiate debut in the 4th inning,
worked 3.1 IP, 5 K, 2 H, 0 R
Dylan Steen made his WSU debut, started and worked into the
4th inning
Grant DeLappe made his WSU debut, entered the game as a
pinch runner in the 9th inning
GAME 4 RECAP
In the third inning, Saint Mary’s used three hits to push
two runs across off of Cougar starter Hayden Rosenkrantz. The sophomore
righthander was solid in his first appearance of 2019, working a career-high
five innings and struck out a career-high five while allowing just two earned
runs.
The Cougars had their chances in the early innings but
stranded a runner on second in the first and left a pair of runners on in the
fourth inning. In the sixth, WSU put runners on second and third after a walk
by Danny Sinatro and a double down the left field line by Andres Alvarez.
Collin Montez continued his impressive weekend with a sacrifice fly to score
Sinatro, cutting the SMC lead to 2-1.
Rosenkrantz settled in and cruised with three straight
scoreless innings including a six-pitch sixth inning before being lifted after
hitting a man to start the seventh. The Gaels went on to push six runs across
in the inning and added another in the eighth for a 9-1 advantage.
INSIDE THE GAME 4 BOX SCORE
Owen Leonard made his WSU debut, worked two-thirds of an
inning in the 7th
Bryce Moyle ended the 8th by striking out the only batter he
faced
NEXT UP
The Cougars well return to northern California next weekend
for a four-game series at Santa Clara University beginning Thursday.
::::::::::::::::::
BASEBALL WSU Cougars Doubleheader at Saint Mary’s Suspended
Due To Darkness
Sat 2/16/2018 from WSU Sports Info
MORAGA, Calif. – Washington State saw the second game of its
doubleheader at Saint Mary’s College suspended in the eighth inning due to
darkness. Saint Mary’s claimed the opening game of the day 14-8 despite a
two-homer game from Collin Montez and three hits from Kyle Manzardo, who also
homered.
GAME 1
The Cougars pushed pair of runs across in the first inning
after Dillon Plew scored from second on a Saint Mary’s throwing error and Danny
Sinatro later scored from second after a Kyle Manzardo two-out RBI-single back
up the middle. In the second, WSU loaded the bases and pushed two runs across
on a sacrifice fly from Plew and an RBI-single from Sinatro for a 4-1
advantage.
In the third, Manzardo pushed the Cougar lead to 5-1 with a
solo homer, pulling an 0-2 pitch over the right field wall for his first career
long ball.
In the fourth, the Gaels used six hits, a walk and a
hit-by-pitch to push seven runs across for an 8-5 lead. In the fifth, WSU
received a long solo home run from Collin Montez to right field, his first of
the season, cutting the lead to 8-6.
In the sixth, the Cougars gut the lead to 8-7 after a
two-out RBI-single from Dillon Plew over the third baseman. WSU loaded the
bases with two outs but the rally ended with a called strike three.
SMC pushed runs across in the next three innings to clinch
game one. Montez hit his second home run of game, a solo shot to right field in
the ninth inning.
INSIDE THE GAME 1 BOX SCORE
Manzardo recorded his 1st career hit, a first-inning two-out
RBI-single
Manzardo hit his 1st career home run, a solo shot to right
field in the third inning
Ky Bush made his collegiate debut, ND, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 5 ER, 3
BB
Montez hit his 1st and 2nd home runs of the season and 2nd
and 3rd of his career
Montez recorded the first multiple-HR game since Blake
Clanton hit 2 against USC last season
Connor Barison made his collegiate debut in the 6th inning
1:07 rain delay in bottom of the 6th
Tyson Guerrero made his collegiate debut in the 6th inning
Trevor Ichimura made his collegiate debut in the 8th inning
GAME 2
In the first inning, Plew and Sinatro were each hit by a
pitch to start the game and Montez later pulled a pitch down the right field
line for a two-run double.
Saint Mary’s answered with a run in the bottom of the first,
added a pair of runs in the second inning before using three hits to score
three runs in the fourth inning for a 6-2 advantage.
The Cougar bullpen received a big boost from freshman
righthander Zane Mills who struck out five while recording 3.1 scoreless
innings of work.
INSIDE THE GAME 2 BOX SCORE
Zane Mills made his collegiate debut in the 4th inning,
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WASHINGTON at WSU Men’s Basketblal
SATURDAY, FEB. 16, 2019 – 5 P.M.– BEASLEY COLISEUM (PULLMAN,
WASH.)
From WSU Sports Info
FINAL SCORE: UW 72, WSU 70
POSTGAME NOTES
Sophomore Marvin Cannon had a career-high 25 points…his
previous high was 23 done Dec. 17 against Rider…he was 8-for-15 from the field.
Cannon had 18 of his points points in the first half.
Cannon added a career-high 8 rebounds…his previous high was
7, done against Delaware State, Nov. 24.
Senior Robert Franks and the nation’s 15th-highest scorer in
the nation finished with 16 points.
His 4 first-half points tie his second-fewest points in a
first half…he took a first half season-low 4 shots in the first half (1-for-4).
WSU’s second-leading scorer freshman CJ Elleby made his only
shot in the first half…he finished the first half with 3 points and the game
with 5 points on 4 shots.
The Cougars were not outrebounded for the third-straight
game…they outrebounded Arizona State by 7, were even with Arizona and
outrebounded UW by 6, 33-27.
WSU’s 45 points marks its second time in three games it has
scored 45 or more points in the first half.
The Cougars also out-blocked their rebound for the
third-straight game, 4-1.
The Cougars remain home for two more games beginning with
Colorad, Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m
::::::::::::::::::::::::
BASEBALL Cougars Drop Season-Opener at Saint Mary’s
From WSU Sports Info
MORAGA, Calif. – Washington State dropped its season-opener
8-1 to Saint Mary’s College Friday afternoon.
Saint Mary’s junior left-handed starter Ken Waldichuk, a
Preseason All-American, was impressive, striking out six and allowed one hit in
seven innings to earn the win.
The Cougars received singles from sophomore Garrett
Gouldsmith and freshman Kodie Kolden in their WSU debuts. Cougar junior starter
A.J. Block allowed four runs one five hits in the first inning but settled in
and held the Gaels scoreless before giving way to the bullpen in the fifth
inning.
For Washington State, freshman Trent Sellers made his
collegiate debut in the fifth and induced a fly out before catcher Rob Teel
threw out a runner trying to steal second to end the inning. Freshman Brandon
White also made his collegiate debut, retiring the side in the sixth before SMC
scored four times in the seventh to pull away.
The Cougars pushed a run across in the ninth after a Kodie
Kolden singled to right and a Dillon Plew walked. Kolden later came home on a
Saint Mary’s throwing error.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
Garrett Gouldsmith recorded his 1st career hit as a Cougar
after reaching on an infield single deep in the hole to shortstop
Andres Alvarez walked in the 1st inning, extended his
on-base streak to 10 games, dating back to last season
Trent Sellers made his collegiate debut out of the bullpen
in the 6th inning
Brandon White made his collegiate debut in the 6th inning,
worked 2.2 innings and struck out 2
Bryce Moyle struck out the only batter he faced to end the
8th
Kodie Kolden recorded his 1st career hit with a leadoff
single to right in the 9th
Rob Teel threw out a pair of runners trying to steal second
::::::::
Cougars women basketball runs away from and all over Huskies
with 94-61 victory
Originally published February 15, 2019 at 9:26 pm Updated
February 15, 2019 at 10:48 pm
Washington State delivered Washington its ninth consecutive
loss in a 94-61 thumping.
Seattle Times
PULLMAN (AP) — Chanelle Molina had 18 points and 10 assists,
Borislava Hristova added 18 points, five rebounds and seven assists, and the
Washington State women’s basketball team beat Washington 94-61 on Friday night.
The Cougars (9-16, 4-10 Pac-12) pulled away in the second
quarter with an 18-3 run that made it 39-22 and went into the break with a
16-point lead. Then they opened the third quarter on a 15-3 run, which extended
the advantage to 58-30, and led by at least 24 the rest of the way.
Ula Motuga and Jovana Subasic had 12 points each, and Maria
Kostourkova and Alexys Swedlund scored 11 apiece for Washington State.
Kostourkova grabbed nine rebounds and Motuga had seven boards and six assists.
Amber Melgoza led the Huskies (8-17, 1-12) with 15 points.
Washington lost its ninth in a row.
“I just loved how we
shared the basketball,” WSU coach Kamie Ethridge said. “I loved how against a
real kind of unique defense that we haven’t seen and haven’t practiced against
we made great decisions. We shared the ball. We didn’t force things. It’s a
beautiful thing when the ball goes in like it did.”
Sports information contributed to this report.
:::::::::::::
State of Washington Need Grant could get new budget, new
name
Sun., Feb. 17, 2019, 4:14 p.m.
By Ryan Blake Spokane Spokesman-Review
OLYMPIA –The state’s largest college aid program would get
more money and a new name under a proposal heard last week in a key budget
committee.
The State Need Grant, which offers scholarships for
low-income students on a first-come, first-serve basis, would eventually cover
all eligible students under the new name: the Washington Promise Scholarship.
Although the program covered 68,205 students last year,
22,600 who were eligible received nothing because money ran out.
As part of budget discussions last year, the Legislature
agreed to phase out the waitlist over the next four budget years. Sen. Guy
Palumbo, D-Maltby, prime sponsor of the Washington Promise legislation, said
coming up with the money is a top priority this year.
“We made that commitment to them last year in the budget and
we need to fulfill that budget promise this year,” he said of those who do not
receive the scholarship because money ran out. “We need to keep our word to the
students of the state.”
The proposal, which matches a request in Gov. Jay Inslee’s
2019-21 budget, would retain the same eligibility requirements as the State
Need Grant. Students from a family between 51 and 70 percent of the state’s
median family income would receive a prorated award. This would mean all
students from a family of four making $61,500 or less would be eligible for
some aid.
Those at or below 50 percent of the state’s median family
income – a family of four with an income of $44,000 or less – would receive the
maximum scholarship.
The bill would increase the top grant to cover the full cost
of tuition and fees at a public college or university, or an equivalent amount
for students attending a private college. It would also cover tuition, fees and
required equipment for apprenticeship programs.
Students would need to maintain a satisfactory grade level
set by the institution, and complete a standard two-year associate’s degree in
2.5 years or a four-year undergraduate degree in five years.
But opponents are raising concerns about the cost.
Inslee’s budget proposal adds $103.3 million to the program
over the next two years, would reduce the waitlist by 6,000 students in the
2019-20 academic year, and 12,000 students in the 2020-21 academic year. That
would put the Legislature on track to the goal of covering all eligible
students by 2021-22.
Spokane Sen. Jeff Holy, the top Republican on the Senate
Higher Education Committee, said the state should cover all eligible students
eventually, if the money is available, and eliminate the waitlist gradually.
“I’m against what they’re trying to do, although I
understand what they’re trying to do: Reprioritize higher education,” Holy
said. Lawmakers shouldn’t commit future Legislatures to spending money by
creating a new entitlement, he said.
The Senate and House both have a range of ideas to make
college more affordable for some students, but the decisions on which ideas
will survive come down to the final budget agreement between Inslee and the the
Legislature.
Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, and chairman of the House
Appropriations Committee, said it’s too early to tell what the state will do to
make higher education more accessible.
“We’re early in the process and our priorities are still
evolving,” Ormsby said.
::::::::::::::::::::::
MEN’S BASKETBALL Late miscues cost Washington State in near
upset of first-place Washington
UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 16, 2019, 10:59 p.m.
By Theo Lawson Spokane S-R
PAC-12 MEN’S BASKETBALL at Beasley Coliseum, Pullman,
Washington
➤Wednesday, Feb. 20:
Colorado Buffaloes at Washington State Cougars, 7 p.m. PST TV: Pac-12 Networks
PULLMAN – For nearly 30 minutes Saturday night, it looked
and felt like the momentum Washington State stumbled on in two major road
victories might carry the Cougars to a third win at home.
The defensive tenacity they showed at Arizona State and
Arizona appeared to have followed them back to Pullman. They were springing for
rebounds and whipping the ball around with purpose.
The Cougars played well enough for long enough against the
top team in the Pac-12 to prove last week’s road sweep wasn’t just a desert
mirage.
But old habits die hard. A team that has struggled to take
care of the ball at times this season couldn’t hold onto it in the decisive
minutes against Washington. While the best crowd of the season (4,233) saw WSU
lead UW for 29 minutes, the Huskies seized control late and held on for a 72-70
victory at Beasley Coliseum.
“We really hit our
stride, obviously, last weekend,” WSU coach Ernie Kent said. “This team still
has a lot of growth potential left, because Washington is the best team in the
league by far. They were really good last week, they’re going to be really good
next week. Their growth is already there. … We’re not there.”
First-place UW improved to 20-5 and 11-1 in Pac-12 play;
11th-place WSU dropped to 10-15 and 3-9.
The Cougars committing a heap of turnovers late in the game
wasn’t too surprising. The culprits were, however.
Seven of WSU’s 19 turnovers came in the final 7:15, and six
of those were credited to senior Robert Franks and freshman CJ Elleby, who
respectively lead the Cougars in scoring and rebounding. For the game, Franks
and Elleby committed 10 turnovers – five apiece – and a tandem that’s
responsible for 37 points per game only combined for 22.
“It hurts right now.
It’s a great learning experience, but it definitely hurts,” said Franks, who
was held to 16 points, well under his Pac-12-leading scoring average. “I would
say, yeah, the last 5 minutes were the turning point of this game.”
UW employs a strict 2-3 zone defense that has stifled Pac-12
opponents all season and is largely the reason the Huskies have rolled through
conference play with one loss despite scoring only 72 points per game.
But WSU had no problem cracking that zone in the first half,
when the Cougars scored 45 points, on 59 percent shooting, and held a firm
nine-point lead.
The Huskies often didn’t have enough time to reset on
defense after missing shots, and WSU’s run-and-gun offense allowed the Cougars
to speed up the pace and create open shots.
On an off-night for Franks and Elleby, sophomore Marvin
Cannon was often the instigator for WSU’s offense and finished with a
career-high 25 points and eight rebounds. He also chipped in two steals and a
blocked shot.
His efforts were almost enough to get the Cougars over the
hump, but two untimely turnovers with less than 90 seconds to play wound up
sealing WSU’s fate.
Uncharacteristically, they both came from Franks, the
reigning Pac-12 Player of the Week whose 65 points against ASU and Arizona were
largely the reason the Cougars entered the game on such a roll. WSU trailed
68-67 when the senior forward dribbled the ball into traffic, and off his foot,
with 1:24 left.
Franks committed another turnover with 52 seconds to play
and the Cougars down two.
“I think they were
all self-inflicted,” Franks said. “Mine, I think, with 1:30 left was huge. But
I think they were just self-inflicted.”
Had the Cougars pulled it out, Cannon would’ve been the
hero, and possibly a candidate to follow Franks as Pac-12 POTW.
The Richmond, Virginia, native had 18 of his 25 points by
halftime and electrified the crowd with alley-oop dunks – both served up by
Jervae Robinson.
Cannon came into the game just 3 of 17 in Pac-12 play from
3-point range, but made 3 of 5.
“It just came from playing hard, doing what I normally do,
bringing energy,” Cannon said.
“My guys just finding me with spots I could shoot the ball.
Just be a playmaker.”
“Marv played a heckuva game,” Franks said of Cannon. “He’s
only a sophomore. He’s going to be something special. I think Cougar basketball
should definitely take notice of him for the future.”
The Huskies were led by sophomore guard Jaylen Nowell’s 20
points. Big man Noah Dickerson posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double.
::::::
MEN’S BASKETBALL Cougs come to play against Huskies
WSU leads for much of game before UW powers to 72-70 rivalry
victory
By COLTON CLARK of the Lewiston Trib Feb 17, 2019
PULLMAN — For 29 minutes, the underdog Washington State
men’s hoops team led Apple Cup rival and the Pac-12’s top club, Washington.
The Cougs had a season-best mob of 4,233 at their backs,
supplying piercing stimulus; they had a firm edge in every statistical
category; and they looked to have retained every bit of that momentum garnered
last weekend, when they shocked both Arizona programs.
What they lacked, overall, and what UW owned, was
experience. And down the stretch, WSU’s composure expired, while the savvy
Huskies went to work.
After trailing by as much as 14 midway through the first, UW
crept up incrementally and outplayed Wazzu in the second to score a 72-70 win
Saturday night at Beasley Coliseum.
“We tried to make some plays that we didn’t need to make,”
WSU coach Ernie Kent said on his team’s late-tilt mishaps. “We lengthened the
game when we should’ve been focused on shortening the game. To their credit,
they just took advantage of our miscues and closed the game out.”
UW (20-5, 11-1) outshot Wazzu by 14 percent in the second,
forced seven Cougar turnovers over the final seven minutes (19 total), became
assertive in the paint and managed a pair of game-breaking rallies.
The first — which set the tone — was prompt. The Huskies
fabricated a 7-0 run out of the break to cut the Cougs’ lead to two.
And after WSU’s star of the night, Marvin Cannon, devised a
few responses, UW did it again.
With a medley of putbacks from Noah Dickerson, midrange
jumpers from Jaylen Nowell — and short Coug possessions and defensive lapses —
the Huskies concocted a 13-3 run, giving them their first advantage since the
opening stages.
The foes traded makes throughout the waning minutes, but UW
simply capitalized on Wazzu’s slips and dishing (and shooting) inconsistencies.
With under two minutes left, Nowell finished a nifty layin off a steal and
Dickerson tipped in a putback to make it a two-possession game, which proved
insurmountable.
“The last five minutes were the turning point of this game,”
said Coug forward Robert Franks, who booked 16 points but had five giveaways
and was largely bottled up in the first. ”(The turnovers) were self-inflicted.”
Nowell and Dickerson spearheaded UW’s offense with 20 and 18
points, respectively. Dickerson added 10 boards.
Kent noted how WSU (10-15, 3-9) became “hesitant”
offensively and largely failed to offset UW’s 2-3 zone by beating the Huskies
downcourt in transition in the second.
“I thought we stopped running a little bit, and sometimes
that has to do with easy buckets inside by them; they can get back,” Kent said.
And the Coug ward wavered in preventing said baskets from
UW, which logged 34 paint points and 23 off turnovers.
“When you’re not getting stops, all of a sudden it kinda
bogs you down,” Kent added. “Our defense got away from doing the job we needed
to in the second half, just making the tough plays.”
In the first half? Different story.
“Length,” Kent said on what gave WSU an edge. “For as good
as their zone is, I thought we were outstanding defensively.”
Though standouts Franks and freshman CJ Elleby (five total
turnovers) combined for only seven points before intermission, the Cougars were
resoundingly impressive.
Especially Cannon. He got some swats, gave WSU loads of
second chances by warring for each and every loose ball and was dynamic on
offense — he hit 3s, flushed breakaway dunks, alley-oops and tossed in
contested layups.
Cannon accrued a breakout, career-best 25 points and eight
rebounds on 8-of-15 from the floor.
“It just comes from playing hard, doing what I normally do,”
said a modest Cannon. “Just bringing energy, my guys finding me in spots where
I can shoot … just be a playmaker.”
Franks, who’s a role model of sorts for Cannon, lauded the
sophomore’s night.
“Marv played a heckuva game,” he said. “He’s gonna be
something special. Cougar basketball should definitely take notice of him. …
Hat’s off; really impressed and proud of him.”
In the first, WSU overarchingly controlled the pace,
exploited the Huskies’ defense with ball movement and played aggressive
defensively. Cannon ignited a 14-3 Cougs spurt to procure a double-digit lead
midway through after Jervae Robinson linked up with Isaiah Wade on a long-range
alley-oop.
Three Cannon freebies handed WSU a game-high 34-20 lead at
7:30 in the first, a frame in which WSU shot 59 percent.
Despite the loss, Wazzu appears to have turned it around
substantially — except perhaps the turnover issue. It played admirably against
a team Kent called “the best team in the league by far.”
The Cougs have altered their personnel, and are defending,
rebounding and sharing the load more effectively.
“We’ve come so far as a basketball program,” Kent said. “...
(We’re) still a team that has the opportunity to grow; we’ve not hit our
ceiling or are anywhere near it.”
WASHINGTON (20-5)
Wright 2-4 0-0 6, Dickerson 7-8 4-5 18, Thybulle 4-11 0-0 9,
Nowell 8-16 2-3 20, Crisp 3-12 0-0 8, Timmins 2-2 0-0 4, Green 1-3 0-0 3,
Carter 2-4 0-0 4, Hardy 0-1 0-0 0, Bey 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-61 6-8 72.
WASHINGTON ST. (10-15)
Franks 5-10 2-2 16, Pollard 3-6 0-0 6, Elleby 2-4 1-1 5,
Cannon 8-15 6-7 25, Ali 2-6 2-2 7, Wade 2-3 0-0 4, Kunc 1-3 0-0 3, Daniels 0-0
0-0 0, Robinson 1-2 2-2 4. Totals 24-49 13-14 70.
Halftime_Washington St. 45-36. 3-Point Goals_Washington 8-20
(Wright 2-3, Nowell 2-4, Crisp 2-6, Green 1-2, Thybulle 1-5), Washington St.
9-21 (Franks 4-6, Cannon 3-5, Kunc 1-3, Ali 1-4, Robinson 0-1, Elleby 0-2).
Fouled Out_None. Rebounds_Washington 24 (Dickerson 10), Washington St. 32
(Cannon 8). Assists_Washington 12 (Thybulle 3), Washington St. 17 (Robinson 6).
Total Fouls_Washington 16, Washington St. 17. A_4,233 (11,671).
:::::::
WSU's FOOTBALLl program has entered a new stage
Cougfan.com
WASHINGTON STATE IS NO LONGER a program that needs to
rebuild its roster each football season, now it just reloads. That’s the
conclusion from Athlon in its three reasons for optimism for the Cougs headed
into the 2019 campaign.
The 2018 season settled the matter, writes Athlon’s John
Coon.
"Forget rebuilding seasons. Washington State has
entered the reloading stage with its football program. The Cougars overcame the
loss of key stars on both sides of the ball by putting together their finest
season yet under head coach Mike Leach," the article reads.
It wasn't only "key starters" last year, it was
also about volume. Washington State
returned only nine starters -- the fewest in the Pac-12 -- and the Cougs
proceeded to put together an 11-2 record, posting a single-season program
record for wins.
As long as WSU can take care of its top concern under Mike
Leach -- finding a new QB -- here are the three reasons Athlon points to for
crimson optimism in 2019.
1. Washington State returns tons of experience on offense
“Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will have the
benefit of four returning starters on the offensive line and multiple
playmakers coming back at the skill positions ... Dezmon Patmon, Davontavean Martin, and Easop
Winston all finished with more than 650 receiving yards last season ... Patmon
and Winston, in particular, were able to stretch the field ..."
2. The Cougars' defense won't regress under Tracy Claeys
“The Cougars finished in the top third of the Pac-12 in
rushing defense (141.7 ypg), pass defense (218.1), and total defense (359.5).
Replacing top tackler Peyton Pelluer is a concern. Still, Washington State
returns standouts like Jahad Woods, Skyler Thomas, Marcus Strong, Dominick
Silvels, Willie Taylor III, and Will Rogers III ... There's more than enough
difference-makers to keep the Cougars as tough to deal with on defense as they
are to deal with on offense.”
3. Leach knows how to recruit to his system
“Filling holes is becoming easier and easier for Leach
because he knows exactly what he needs to make the Air Raid run as smoothly as
a new car engine. Washington State has won eight or more games in four
consecutive seasons ... It comes down to finding a quarterback who can step up
as a leader and embrace the Air Raid with the same zeal as Minshew. Leach
should be able to plug in a new signal-caller without any trouble. He has had
one of the top passers in the Pac-12 each year since taking over the program.”
:::::::::::
FOOTBALL:
Jalen Thompson rightfully calls out ESPN for new WSU FOOTBALL
ranking
By BRAULIO PEREZ Thu Feb 14 2019 Cougfan.com
THE COUGS ARE coming off their best campaign in school
history but if you ask ESPN, which today released its latest Football Power
Index rankings, Washington State checks in at a pedestrian No. 33 heading into
2019. Seriously? Well, star safety Jalen Thompson took to
Twitter to sum up what Cougar fans out there are thinking.
And the playmaker isn't happy about it.
The Cougs landed in the Pac-12's bottom half in ESPN's FPI
rankings, behind Oregon, Washington, Utah, UCLA, Stanford and USC. With what Wazzu has coming back off last
year's team, to rank behind half of the conference is truly a stunner. No wonder JT is fired up.
The Cougs do lose some key players from 2018 headed into
this season, including quarterback Gardner Minshew, left tackle Andre Dillard
and running back James Williams. But with what they have coming back, No. 33 is
comical.
WSU returns 15 starters (offense, defense and special
teams), including four of the five offensive linemen, and three of the four
wideouts. The Cougs returned only nine
starters this past season -- the fewest in the Pac-12 -- and won a
school-record 11 games and captured the Alamo Bowl crown. That doesn't come
easy. It takes a whole lot of work over the entire calendar year by everyone.
And many of those players are back in '19.
On defense, Thompson will be joined by DE Will Rodgers III,
LB Jahad Woods, RUSH Willie Taylor, Safety Skyler Thomas and a number of other
players on the rise. On offense, there
are wideouts Dezmon Patmon, Easop Winston Jr. and Jamire Calvin, plus RB Max
Borghi and MANY others.
So let's look at the depth.
In the two-deeps from the last depth chart WSU released, 16 of 22 return
on offense. And 14 of 22 on defense.
IF ESPN WAS worried about the quarterback position, (and
they were, as the FPI places "special emphasis" on a returning QB),
did they forget Mike Leach just added former FCS All-American Gage Gubrud, who
will compete for the starting QB job starting in the spring?
If ESPN was worried about recruiting rankings -- and they
were, as the FPI also emphasizes recruiting rankings despite the fact many true
freshmen won't play this season, and virtually all that do won't have the same
impact as upperclassmen -- did they forget what WSU has done the last four
seasons despite so-called mediocre recruiting rankings?
So to come in at 33rd in the land, after finishing the
season ranked in the top 10 in the polls and with so many pieces
returning? You better believe Thompson
and the rest of the Cougs are going to use it as motivation moving forward with
spring ball kicking off next month.
Indeed, when Cougar Nation arrives to Martin Stadium on
April 20 for the Crimson and Gray Game, count on the WSU players looking to
emphatically remind the fans of what's to come in the fall.
Many doubted the Cougs last season, including after Minshew
announced he was Palouse-bound.
And that includes last year's FPI.
Before the 2018 season kicked off, the ESPN FPI predicted
Washington State's win-loss record at 6.1-5.9, placing the Cougs 10th in the
Pac-12 -- behind ASU, UCLA, Arizona, Utah, Cal, Oregon, USC, Stanford and UW --
and ahead of only Colorado and Oregon State.
How'd that work out?
As for Thompson, he's coming off a strong junior campaign.
The 6-0, 190-pounder posted 66 tackles and two interceptions, earning Pac-12
Honorable Mention honors.
Now, he'll get ready to kickstart his senior campaign with
this added motivation. ESPN did have WSU at No. 13 in its "Way Too Early
Top 25" but if you ask Thompson and Co., the Worldwide Leader is way off
the mark with its new FPI post.
:::::::
WSU football offensive lineman Robert Valencia granted one
more year of eligibility with Cougs
UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 15, 2019, 11:23 p.m.
By Theo Lawson of the S-R of Pullman
PULLMAN – Robert Valencia made the first start of his career
in what was supposed to be his last game at Washington State, but now the
offensive lineman will have another year of eligibility to play with the
Cougars.
Valencia, a redshirt senior in 2018, announced Friday on
Twitter that he’d been granted another year of eligibility. According to a
Washington State official, Valencia was granted an extension of clock waiver
because the school proved he had two years of denied opportunity.
A former San Francisco City College offensive lineman who
was once ranked the 11th-best junior college tackle in the country by ESPN.com
and a four-star prospect by Scout.com, Valencia played in all 13 games for the
Cougars last season, primarily on field-goal and PAT teams.
The 6-foot-6, 300-pound offensive lineman was the primary
backup to Josh Watson at right guard last season. He had his number called when
Watson suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury before the Cougars played Iowa
State in the Alamo Bowl.
Valencia stepped in for Watson and didn’t miss a beat in
WSU’s 28-26 victory against the Cyclones. For his efforts in the game, Valencia
earned the team’s “Bone Award” – a weekly honor recognizing the team’s best
offensive lineman.
He also played sparingly in WSU’s games against San Jose
State, Eastern Washington, Oregon State, Colorado and Arizona.
Valencia enrolled at WSU in January 2017 but didn’t appear
in a game during the 2017 season because of an undisclosed injury. He was
taking first-team reps at right guard much of fall camp, but ultimately ceded
the spot to Watson, a 12-game starter.
With Valencia’s return, the Cougars not only bring back four
of five starters from last season – left guard Liam Ryan, center Fred Mauigoa,
Watson and right tackle Abraham Lucas – but a few key backups. Redshirt
junior-to-be Christian Haangana played in all 13 games last season on special
teams but also spelled Ryan multiple times at left guard.
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