The Cougar women (14-10) fought past the Pacific Tigers (11-11) Thursday night for an 82-70 victory. The win was just the cherry on top as the team had more to celebrate.
The game’s theme was “International Night”, aptly named for a team that includes an impressive 10 international players. The team’s culture and identity throughout the season has been built on the versatility and diversity of the team. How much that identity matters showed Thursday when forward Tara Wallack and guard Eleonora Villa walked into their postgame interview with the flags of their home countries draped over their shoulders.
Even on a special night, the Cougs still had to keep their emotions in check to make sure the night was capped off with a win.
WSU came out of the gates hot, starting with a Villa three-pointer that came within the first five seconds of the game. Then after falling behind 10-3, the Cougs would find their rhythm. WSU finished the quarter on a massive 18-4 run, sparked in large part by forward Dayana Mendes. The former WCC freshman of the week winner scored seven points in the final three-and-a-half minutes of the quarter, including a confidence-boosting three-pointer from the top of the key.
The Cougs continued their momentum into the second quarter, pushing the pace and letting it fly from three as guards Astera Tuhina and Kyra Gardner both hit from outside. Wazzu built its lead up to 14, the largest of the first half, but fell apart during the last half of the second quarter.
Pacific responded with an 18-4 run of its own over the last five minutes of the half, looking like a completely different team than in the first fifteen minutes. Contributors came from all across the floor, but guard Liz Smith put the stamp on the half for the Tigers. In the final four minutes, she had an assist, steal, layup and four made free throws. The Cougs looked flustered after a nearly flawless start to the game, and headed into the locker room knotted at 36.
The second half started out hotly contested as both teams traded buckets. Late in the third quarter though, WSU would get back to its old scoring ways.
After Mendes tied it at 47 with just under three minutes, the Cougs took control. Mendes sparked an 11-2 run that pushed the Cougs’ lead to eight before WSU committed an unnecessary foul against Smith on a three-point shot attempt. After head coach Kamie Ethridge yelled from the sidelines in dismay, the Cougs quickly restored their lead with two baskets in the final 10 seconds, including a crafty steal-and-score by Tuhina at the buzzer.
The third quarter was the highest-scoring quarter for the Cougs as they outscored the Tigers 24-16.
The Cougs continued their strong play into the fourth, keeping the Tigers just out of reach the rest of the way. WSU pushed the lead up to 15 with about four minutes to play and closed it out strong as Villa continued to have herself a night. Villa had 13 in the final quarter, capping off a memorable night.
With the lead, Ethridge was able to give all but one of her international players playing time as guards Jean Chiu and Alice Dart got some last-minute action. Reserve Keandra Koorits has not seen the floor all season.
Almost everyone got a piece of the pie on a night meant to celebrate.
Villa was the star of the show for the Cougs, finishing with 24 points, just a point shy of tying her career-high. She also had three assists and drew a lot of contact, making seven of eight free throws.
“I think what helped me to get in the free throw line was being aggressive and to keep trying to attack the paint, especially because they were so aggressive,” Villa said. “So that’s why they found me that much. And it feels good, especially in a night that is ‘International Day’.”
Wallack shared Villa’s enthusiasm given the special occasion.
“I think it’s a super cool night and just to share all our different cultures and where we all come from,” Wallack said. “There’s three Americans on the team, and the rest are all across the world, and it’s just a cool thing. I mean, I feel like I would not have met LA (Villa) if we never came to WSU, never played basketball.”
Wallack was also a major contributor, almost getting another double-double as she scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
Ethridge also indulged in the International Night, celebrating the success of her players despite being an American herself.
“I’ve said it over and over and over: I love recruiting international players,” Ethridge said. “I love that they usually come over here really mature, they are most of the time from great schools and really great academic fields. But they really embrace the whole college experience, not just the athletics experience.”
Center Alex Covill was notably absent from the game, but Ethridge said she was dealing with a lingering foot injury and the team wanted to play it safe.
Guard Anaya James led the way for Pacific, scoring 19 points to go along with five rebounds. The Tigers’ three leading scorers this season were once again the team’s main offensive presence, this time combining for 46 points.
WSU gets to stay home for its fifth game in nine days when the team plays San Diego on Saturday at noon.