Cougars Rally Past Pepperdine Behind Abraham’s Breakout, Villa’s Steady Hand
PULLMAN, Wash. - It wasn’t the cleanest start, but Washington State women’s basketball found its rhythm when it mattered most. Trailing early and searching for answers offensively, the Cougars dug in defensively, found their footing in the second half, and clawed their way to a gritty 66-63 win over Pepperdine to open West Coast Conference play with a much-needed victory.
Now 2-12 on the season and 1-0 in conference, this one was about resilience. The Cougars were out of sync early, managing just eight points in the first quarter, but they stayed within striking distance thanks to hustle plays, rebounding, and a defense that refused to let Pepperdine pull away.
The stat sheet tells the story of a team that did the dirty work. Washington State edged the Waves on the glass, 34-33, but made their boards count-outscoring Pepperdine 16-2 in second-chance points. They also turned defense into offense, converting 18 points off turnovers while limiting their own miscues to a season-low nine.
Charlotte Abraham’s Breakout Moment
Charlotte Abraham picked a great time to deliver the best performance of her young career. The sophomore forward notched her first-ever double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, and she did it with confidence. Abraham hit four threes-matching a career high-including two big ones late in the second quarter that helped spark a 7-2 run and gave WSU a 24-23 lead heading into halftime.
Her energy on the glass and ability to stretch the floor were key to flipping the momentum. It was also the first double-double by any Cougar this season, and it came at a time when this team needed a spark.
Villa Steers the Ship
Eleonora Villa led all scorers with 17 points and was the steady presence WSU leaned on late. She attacked the paint, hit a clutch three at the end of the third quarter to give the Cougars a 44-39 lead, and calmly orchestrated the offense down the stretch.
Villa’s latest performance adds to what’s becoming a stellar career in Pullman. She now sits at 1,167 career points-good for 16th in program history-and is inching closer to several all-time marks.
With 119 career threes, she’s just 14 away from cracking the WSU top-10 list. Her 462 made field goals and 2,800 minutes played also have her on the cusp of more milestones.
Supporting Cast Steps Up
Malia Ruud brought toughness inside, finishing with 10 points and tying a career-high with two steals. Her interior scoring gave the Cougars a needed physical presence, especially early in the fourth quarter when she scored inside to stretch the lead to double digits.
Mackenzie Chatfield chipped in nine points and filled the stat sheet with four rebounds and five assists. Her floor vision helped keep the offense flowing, especially during the second-quarter turnaround when she and Tanja Valancic helped WSU find its rhythm.
Closing It Out
Pepperdine made a push late, cutting the lead to three in the final minutes, but Washington State held its ground. The Cougars came up with key stops, secured tough rebounds, and made just enough plays to close the door.
It wasn’t always pretty, but it was gritty-and for a team still finding its identity, that kind of win can go a long way.
Notable Numbers:
- Abraham’s 10 rebounds and four threes both tied career highs.
- WSU’s nine turnovers were a season low.
- The Cougars made eight threes, tied for their second-most in a game this year.
- Alex Covill remains seventh all-time in program history with 118 career blocks and has now reached 200 career rebounds.
What’s Next:
Washington State won’t have much time to rest. The Cougars are back at Beasley Coliseum on Tuesday, Dec. 30, hosting LMU in another WCC showdown.
Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. PT, streaming live on ESPN+.
For a team that’s been through a tough non-conference slate, this win could be the start of something. The Cougars showed they can grind out a close one. Now the question is-can they build on it?