Big game hunting

Junior+guard+Tia+Presley+reaches+for+a+loose+ball+during+a+road+game+against+the+Ducks%2C+Jan.+24.

Junior guard Tia Presley reaches for a loose ball during a road game against the Ducks, Jan. 24.

The WSU women’s basketball team has faced bumps in the road in the past two weeks, and the journey to the NCAA Tournament will only get more difficult this weekend when the Cougars host two elite programs.

Tonight the Cougars host No. 3 Stanford at 6 p.m. Then, WSU will host No. 22 California at 2 p.m. Sunday in Beasley Coliseum.

The WSU (12-10, 6-4) team finally snapped a three-game losing streak against USC last weekend, but this might be the toughest stretch of their schedule.

The top-ranked Stanford (21-1, 10-0) Cardinal will travel to Pullman on Friday with a 55-0 all-time record against the Cougars, and WSU has never beaten a top-5 team. However, Washington State has a gained more confidence this year after beating three nationally ranked teams.

California (14-7, 6-4) will be an impactful game. The Golden Bears are tied for fourth with WSU in the Pac-12 standing, and if they want to sweep this home stand they’ll to do three important things.

Avoid fouls

In the past few losses the Cougars have had foul trouble. Opposing teams have been able to capitalize on foul shots and attacked the basket with ease. The new rule changes on defense this year have been a learning curve for the entire team.

Junior center Shalie Dheensaw has been a victim of being in foul trouble early in the game. In 22 games this year, she has only recorded two or fewer fouls in five games.

“It’s difficult, these new rule changes,” Dheensaw said. “It’s not me, it’s everyone that’s getting into foul trouble, but I think its adapting and being a little less aggressive and keeping my head in it.

Contain Chiney Ogwumike

The big name for Stanford going against the Washington State squad will be All-American senior forward Chiney Ogwumike. She leads the Pac-12 in scoring with 27 points per game, she and is second in rebounding with 12 boards per contest.

“Stopping Chiney, I feel like that’s everyone’s key. Actually you can’t even stop her, but try and limit her,” junior guard Tia Presley said. “Limit her touches, make other girls prove they can beat us, and if we can try and keep her points down we’ll have a really good chance.”

Dheensaw and other post players will see her under the basket frequently in the game on Friday, but she said their goal is to limit Chiney.

Last week Ogwumike was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the seventh time this season, which is a new conference record. Last year she set the record with six.

Play with house money

The Cougars have not been able to scratch the all-time record in the wins category against the Stanford Cardinal. Also, California was in the Final Four last year, but with the season they have had so far the Cougars believe anything can happen at any given time.

“We’re coming into this game like it’s a normal game. It’s not like Stanford is here, we’re ready to play no matter who it is,” Presley said. “So we’re really excited, and it’s a great opportunity for us, we’ve had some big wins and we’ve won them on the road, so now we’re going to come home and try and get a big win here.”

In the press conference on Tuesday, Head Coach June Daugherty said both Stanford and California are great teams, but WSU has played well against them in the past and they are ready for the challenge.

“We’re going to go in and work had because we have absolutely nothing to lose in this game… but I think if we play our game and we play the defense I know we can play, we’re going to be fine,” Dheensaw said.