‘It is going to take every effort that we have’

WSU women’s basketball takes on tough opponent BYU

Senior+guard+Chanelle+Molina+anticipates+her+next+move+against+Pepperdine+on+Tuesday+night+at+Beasley+Coliseum.

HSING-HAN CHEN | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Senior guard Chanelle Molina anticipates her next move against Pepperdine on Tuesday night at Beasley Coliseum.

SHAYNE TAYLOR, Evergreen reporter

The women’s basketball team will look to open the season with back to back wins on Saturday against Brigham Young University (BYU).

The last time these two teams faced was during the 2016-2017 basketball season. WSU came away with a 72-64 win on the road in Provo, Utah.

BYU, however, leads the overall series at 3-2 since the 2000 season. Their last victory came during the 2013-2014 season when they defeated WSU in Provo, Utah 80-73.

Coming off an 85-48 victory over the Pepperdine Waves on Tuesday, where WSU saw four players reach the double-digit point mark, head Coach Kamie Ethridge said she will enjoy the win quickly, but it is back to business as they have a tough opponent coming to town.

“It is going to take every effort that we have,” Ethridge said in a press conference. “We are excited to play a great team and another great program in BYU.”

Shooting 58.8 percent from the field and 47.8 percent from behind the arc, BYU also found themselves in the win column after a convincing first performance. They defeated the University of Antelope Valley 105-52.

BYU had eleven different players get on the board in their first contest, six of whom scored double-digit points.

Players to watch from the opposition on Saturday include senior forward Jasmine Moody, who recorded a team-high 15 points in the game, and sophomore forward Babalu Ugwu who scored 14 points and five assists. Ugwu also hauled in eight rebounds.

Sophomore forward Malli Perri of BYU recorded a double-double with her 12 points and game-high 11 rebounds.

Senior Borislava Hristova said that as well as they played during the win over Pepperdine, there is still plenty to clean up before they face a toughly built team.

“They are a really good team in every position, so we have to rebound well, and we have to defend well,” Hristova said in a press conference.

Hristova will look to duplicate the impressive outing she had in game one against the Waves, when she moved into second place in the WSU all-time scoring list and earned herself player of the game honors.

WSU will host the BYU Cougars at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Beasley Coliseum in Pullman, Washington.