In a hard-fought battle on the road, Washington State women's basketball came up short against Oregon State, falling 79-51 at Gill Coliseum. Despite the loss, the Cougars showcased some promising performances and moments of resilience.
Washington State, now sitting at 5-24 overall and 4-12 in conference play, pulled down 35 rebounds and scored 26 points in the paint. Leading the charge was Alex Covill, who netted 15 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Keandra Koorits provided a spark off the bench with 13 points, while Mackenzie Chatfield added 12 points, driving hard to the basket and finishing through contact.
The game opened with a physical first quarter, where the Cougars relied on Covill's presence inside and Chatfield's early aggression to keep pace. However, Oregon State's transition game and perimeter shooting allowed them to jump ahead 21-10 after the first period.
In the second quarter, Washington State found their groove offensively. Koorits ignited a run with a corner three and aggressive drives, while Covill continued to be a force in the paint. The Cougars managed to cut into the lead, but Oregon State's timely three-pointers helped them maintain a 47-29 advantage at the half.
After the break, Washington State turned up the defensive intensity. Chatfield's free throws and fast-break finishes, along with a mid-range jumper from Covill, trimmed the deficit to 12.
The Cougars dominated the glass in the third quarter, grabbing 15 rebounds and creating second-chance opportunities. Yet, Oregon State found late answers to stay in control.
The fourth quarter saw continued effort from the Cougars, highlighted by a Jean Chiu three-pointer and effective half-court execution. Washington State moved the ball well, ending the game with 12 assists and outscoring Oregon State in the paint during various stretches. Nevertheless, the early deficit and Oregon State's shooting prowess proved too much to overcome.
On the milestone front, Eleonora Villa added two points, bringing her career total to 1,399, just 86 shy of cracking the program's top ten. Villa also continues to climb the ranks in career threes and field goals, while Covill and Charlotte Abraham edge closer to personal milestones in blocks and points, respectively.
Looking ahead, the Cougars return to Pullman for their final two games of the regular season. They'll face Seattle U on Thursday, Feb. 26, followed by a matchup with Saint Mary's on Saturday, Feb.
- Both games will be available on ESPN+.
As the season winds down, fans can catch all the action and updates by following WSU women's basketball on social media or visiting their official website.