Washington State Women's Basketball Shows Fight, Falls Late to San Francisco
In a game that was closer than the final score might suggest, Washington State women's basketball went toe-to-toe with San Francisco for most of the night before the Dons pulled away in the closing minutes for an 85-72 win at Beasley Coliseum.
The Cougars, now 4-17 overall and 3-5 in West Coast Conference play, showed flashes of cohesion and grit-assisting on 19 made baskets and forcing 18 turnovers. Despite being out-rebounded, they kept the pressure on, battling through all four quarters with a level of tenacity that doesn’t always show up in the win-loss column.
Villa, Covill Lead the Charge
Eleonora Villa was once again the engine of the Cougar offense, pouring in 18 points and continuing her climb up the WSU record books. Her ability to attack the lane and finish through contact gave the Cougs a steady offensive presence.
With nine made field goals, she now sits at 513 for her career-just 24 shy of cracking the program's all-time top-10. She's also just one three-pointer away from joining the school’s top-10 in career made threes.
Inside, Alex Covill was a force in the paint, adding 17 points and anchoring the interior on both ends. Her lone block moved her to 134 for her career, seventh in program history and just one swat away from sixth. She also inched closer to the 500-point and 250-rebound milestones-quietly building a solid all-around career.
Trading Blows Early
San Francisco came out firing, hitting shots from deep and jumping out to an early lead. But Washington State didn’t flinch.
The Cougars responded with crisp ball movement and smart interior passing, closing the first quarter down just 23-19. Villa and Covill combined for a steady mix of scoring and playmaking that kept the Cougs within striking distance.
The Dons started to create a bit of separation in the second quarter, capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and cleaning up the glass. Still, WSU kept generating clean looks.
Villa kept attacking the rim, and Malvina Haziri knocked down a key three to keep the Cougars within reach. Even with those efforts, San Francisco took a 43-35 lead into the break, thanks in large part to timely putbacks and hustle plays.
Third-Quarter Surge Falls Just Short
Coming out of halftime, Washington State made its strongest push. Charlotte Abraham knocked down a transition three to set the tone, and Villa followed with back-to-back buckets to pull the Cougars within single digits.
The defense ramped up, forcing turnovers and converting them into points. For a stretch, WSU matched San Francisco possession for possession, but the Dons had an answer every time.
A couple of timely buckets helped them maintain a slim 59-54 lead heading into the fourth.
Late Push, But Dons Pull Away
The Cougars were still very much in it early in the final frame. Covill finished through contact in the paint, and Keandra Koorits brought energy on both ends, including a career-high four steals. But San Francisco found another gear in the final minutes, getting to the line and finishing at the rim to push the lead back into double digits and seal the win.
Notable Numbers and Milestones
- Villa’s 18-point outing moves her to 1,303 career points, 13th in program history and just 30 away from 12th.
- She’s now just one made three-pointer away from WSU’s all-time top-10 list.
- Covill’s 134 career blocks are seventh all-time at WSU; one more will tie her for sixth.
- Abraham continues to do the dirty work-her eight points and three rebounds bring her season total to 141 boards, 96 away from a top-10 single-season mark at WSU.
- The Cougars shot 49.2% from the field-their second-best mark of the season.
- Their 10 steals matched a season-high, previously set against Stanford back in November.
What’s Next
Washington State gets a bit of a breather with just one game on the schedule next week-a road trip to Pacific on Thursday, Jan. 22. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Cougars may not have the record they want, but the effort, growth, and individual milestones tell a deeper story. This team is still fighting-and with players like Villa and Covill leading the way, they’re not going quietly.