Wazzu’s superior rebounding and second-chance points against Washington were no fluke.
Head coach Kamie Ethridge said she offered one pizza to the member of the WSU practice squad that grabbed the most offensive rebounds in a day.
The challenge worked as the Cougs responded to the hungry competition in practice with their hunger for the basketball off the board.
“Us getting 17 second chance points then getting to that was about us being aggressive, not giving in, us not settling and making the most of it,” Ethridge said.
WSU women’s basketball (12-5, 1-3 Pac-12) earned its first Pac-12 Conference win, Sunday in Seattle versus Washington. The Cougs beat the Huskies 72-59 and outscored them 17-2 in second-chance points.
In their Jan. 7 loss to Cal, WSU was outscored 11-6 in second-chance points. Ethridge said she knew UW would attack the boards and wanted her team to be prepared.
Ethridge said graduate transfer Beyonce Bea deserved a lot of credit for her effort against the Huskies. Bea missed some time with injury earlier in the season but found her way back to the court. Bea recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Ethridge said Tuesday during the Cougar basketball hour, that she sees Bea as a player who can score a double-double each night.
Another Washington native showed up in the Apple Cup. Arlington, Washington, native Jenna Villa played closer to home than she had before in her college career. With friends and family in attendance, she shot two airballs to start but rattled off three shots in the second quarter including two 3-pointers.
“She just is, you know, just not afraid of big moments. I mean, you know, as a freshman she’s not afraid of taking a shot,” Ethridge said.
The Cougs return to Beasley Coliseum for the first time in a month to face last-place Arizona State (8-9, 0-5) at 7 p.m. Friday and Arizona at noon Sunday.
Jalyn Brown leads the Sun Devils with 21.6 points per game. Brown made 11-of-23 shots for 35 points versus No. 2 Colorado.
She spent her freshman season at Lousiville but has emerged as a difference maker for an ASU team that is yet to win a Pac-12 game.
“Arizona State has not won a [conference] game so you just immediately know they’re walking in here knowing that they are desperate and they have to win. We better match that, we better be desperate because again, it’s just so hard to find wins,” Ethridge said.
WSU plays ASU at 7 p.m. Friday at Beasley Coliseum. Fans can watch on Pac-12 Washington.