WSU (16-11) cleaned up the mistakes that plagued them in the team’s loss to LMU in January and took care of business with a 63-51 win at home, as every game grows in importance.
Regardless of the Lions’ ninth-place position in the West Coast Conference standings, the Cougs’ unexpected and heartbreaking 79-76 loss a couple of weeks ago proved no opponent is to be underestimated. With two losses against first-place Gonzaga and a loss against second-place Portland, the Cougs’ margin of error is slim at this point. WSU is 1.5 games behind the Bulldogs and one behind the Pilots.
For a second straight game, WSU started slow and produced a low-scoring first half, although not as low as on Saturday versus Gonzaga. The pace did not move fast and players on the perimeter struggled to get going as the game became paint dominated. LMU forward Maya Hernandez and WSU forward Tara Wallack both had their way in the first quarter, scoring eight and six points, respectively. The teams were tied at 14 after one.
The second quarter was even lower-scoring than the first, with WSU edging out LMU 13-10 to hold a three-point leading heading into halftime. The experience of WSU head coach Kamie Ethridge was put on full display through her halftime adjustments, which would push the Cougs over the edge.
“After the first half coach mentioned that we had two assists and 10 turnovers and she told us that we can’t beat anyone with that so I think we changed that,” point guard Astera Tuhina said. “[We] did a better job in the second half by moving the ball and not dribbling as much, and that got us great looks.”
With neither team playing their most efficient offensive games, Ethridge’s words and adjustments made the difference in third quarter.
In a year full of ups and downs, Tuhina had one of her strongest quarters of the season, recording eight points, one assist and one steal while commanding the offense comfortably. Her baskets were earned on tough drives that relied on crafty ballhandling and a willingness to create for herself outside.
The Cougs went on a 9-0 run in the middle of the quarter to push their lead to double-digits before closing out the quarter up by 13. WSU shot 64.3% from the field in the third quarter and outscored the Lions by 10.
WSU put its foot on the gas in the final frame, putting up 18 shots but going 0-7 from three. Despite the offensive struggle, the Cougs still maintained their lead and came out with a comfortable win.
Tuhina attributed the spark in the third and the home win in part to the earlier loss to LMU.
“Every loss sucks,” Tuhina said. “Knowing that we had to play them again, just [staying] focused on knowing the scout, not making the same mistakes again and that’s what we did today. We had a tough first half but I think we figured some things out.”
While the teams combined for 41 less points than their first matchup, the difference-maker for WSU was limiting the output from the Lions’ biggest offensive threats. After having a 37-point breakout with 11 free throws in January, guard Naudia Evans was limited to 20 points this time around on 8-21 shooting and only three made free throws. While forward Maya Hernandez had a strong game with 17 points and 8 rebounds, no other Lions player had above six points.
LMU was limited to just 39.6% shooting overall and were outrebounded 34-28. The Cougs also recorded five blocks and five steals as they continue to be a good rim protecting team that creates lots of deflections.
“I just thought our kids were better at finding ways to rake in on drives and again most of the things that work best is making a shot on one end and then they can’t run it down your throat on the other end,” Ethridge said.
The win was also punctuated by two WSU players celebrating their birthdays. Forward Dayana Mendes and guard Jean Chiu both saw action in the game, with Mendes recording her third double-double, including a career-high 11 rebounds.
Mendes simply attributed her success to development in practice.
“I’m more comfortable with post moves because I work on it during practice and I get more confident so when I play hard at practice I’m more comfortable when I play during the game,” Mendes said.
Mendes also got just her second start of the season, after center Candace Kpetikou started the three previous games in place of starter Alex Covill, who has been out with a leg injury for the past two weeks.
“[Dayana’s] had some great energy and she rebounds good for us clearly on a night she gets a double double,” Ethridge said. “I
still just look at her sometimes and go she doesn’t know what she’s doing half the time but she’s effective in what she’s doing. She guarded Evans, and [Dayana is] a unique talent that we need to have on the floor as much as we can.”
Ethridge also said she wants to see stronger practices from Kpetikou but she had a good game against LMU and she floated the idea of playing Kpetikou and Mendes together in the future.
Even in a matchup against a bottom-three conference opponent, the Cougs had an opportunity to move up in the standings with the win as Gonzaga and Portland were both losing at the game’s conclusion. Both teams came out with wins but both showed vulnerability with margins of four or less.
Tuhina led the way for the Cougs with 15 points and four steals, while three other Cougs scored in the double-digits. Wallack continues to be a defensive leader with three blocks while also scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds.
The Cougs will look to even the score with Portland and work their way into the top two on Saturday on the road at 3 p.m.
