In its inaugural season in the West Coast Conference, WSU Cougar women’s basketball experienced, by most accounts, a successful transition from the Pac-12.
The Cougs were picked to finish third in the conference in the media preseason poll, and finished as the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament. In a new conference and with a very young roster that featured just one senior in forward Tara Wallack and six freshmen, WSU earned its third consecutive 20-win season, fifth consecutive postseason tournament berth and five WCC Freshman of the Week awards. There were many positives in a year that was meant to be a transition year as head coach Kamie Ethridge figured out her rotation with a young core and the team adjusted to a new level and style of competition in the WCC.
Even though WSU did not enter the WCC tournament as the hottest team in the conference, the Cougs still were in prime position to make a run at the conference title and an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament.
WSU earned a bye to the quarterfinals of the tournament by being a top four seed and had the ability to knock off anybody in the conference given the team’s performance against Gonzaga and Portland, the top two teams in the conference. The Cougs were swept by both teams but improved between their two meetings with each opponent. The Cougs lost by eight to the Bulldogs at home before losing an overtime thriller in Spokane. WSU struggled in Pullman against the Pilots but lost by just four points the second time around on the road. At least three of those four matchups could have gone either way, especially if the Cougs hit a few more clutch shots down the stretch.
After handling Pacific in the quarterfinals, WSU faced an ultra-tough Portland team that ran through most of its competition during the conference schedule. The game started less than an hour after No. 4 seed Oregon State upset first-place Gonzaga on a last-second bucket to win the season series and advance to the championship. While the Beavers were the only WCC team to beat the Bulldogs twice this season, a Pac-2 matchup in the title game seemed favorable for a Cougar team that swept OSU in the regular season.
After seeming to improve their counters to Portland’s offensive energy and complex defensive schemes in the regular season, the Cougs continued that momentum in the tournament matchup, getting off to a blistering start and going up by nine at halftime. WSU lost control in the second half though as the Pilots outscored the Cougs by 19 in the third quarter and secured the 72-57 victory.
The tournament performance was not necessarily unexpected, but it was disappointing given the flashes of potential WSU had showed over the course of the season. With a little bit more of a boost at the right time, the Cougs had the potential to steal the conference bid. Now, as the team enters the WNIT after being invited Sunday night, let’s break down the positive and negative takeaways from the WCC tournament.
What went right:
1. Astera Tuhina performed well in front of her family.
The likely leader of next year’s senior class and the Cougs’ floor general came along at the right time. Against Pacific, the junior guard scored a season-high 18 points and dished out six assists. She showed poise and a newfound confidence in her shot, going 3-for-6 from beyond the arc and attempted a season high 13 shots.
The Portland matchup was more of a struggle as she garned four fouls and scored just five points on seven shot attempts. Tuhina found other ways to contribute though, recording five assists and two blocks and playing 37 key minutes as the team’s lead playmaker. In an up-and-down season, Tuhina looked the most comfortable she had been all season down the stretch, likely boosted by the fact her father was watching her for just the second time in her collegiate career.
2. Kyra Gardner and the bench continued to show out.
The Cougs got off to a slow start against Pacific, going down 37-35 at halftime. But the performance of Gardner and the rest of the Cougar bench kept the team alive and led third quarter outburst where WSU outscored Pacific 20-10. Gardner scored seven of her 10 points in the second half, and recorded five rebounds in 16 minutes of action. The team outscored opponents 39-16 in bench points between the two games behind Gardner’s performance against the Tigers and center Alex Covill’s defensive presence that helped to generate a combined 33 points off turnovers.
3. The development of Dayana Mendes continues to prove pivotal to the team’s success.
The freshmen forward had herself a tournament, recording 15 points and four rebounds against Pacific before providing the best all-around performance on the team against Portland, notching a double-double with 11 points and a career-high 13 rebounds. Mendes was the only freshman in the starting lineup for either tournament game and continued to display an innate ability to draw contact. She went 5-for-6 from the free throw line in both games.
While inconsistent at times, her rangy wingspan, defensive versatility, perimeter awareness and developing post game have opened up unique opportunities for the Cougar offense. She handled the pressure the best out of any newcomer in the WCC tournament and has showed up in big moments throughout the season.
What went wrong:
1. Rebounding and second-chance opportunities continue to be an issue.
While the Cougs are by no means the worst rebounding team in the country, they are also far from the best. WSU outrebounded Pacific 36-32 in the quarterfinals, but was pounded on the glass by Portland, losing the rebounding battle 39-53. Nearly 50% of the Pilots’ rebounds were on the offensive glass as Portland grabbed 24 offensive boards and had 23 second chance points.
When neither Covill or Mendes show up on the boards, the Cougs struggle immensely. With Covill ramping up from injury and Mendes still developing an awareness around the basket, the Pilots had their way in the second half and left WSU devestated.
2. The team has been plagued by an inability to close out games.
Holding a 39-30 halftime lead against the conference’s most prolific offense is quite the achievement, but WSU let the moment slip away too fast. Shooting 16% in the third quarter and 7-of-34 in the second half is inexcusable, as well as giving 26 points in one quarter. The Cougs sat in a prime position to upset Portland, but gave it up when the pressure was on.
While WSU had a strong conference record, multiple double-digit leads against inferior opponents, like San Diego and Saint Mary’s, cut games closer than the Cougs would probably like. Losses to Texas Tech, LMU and Gonzaga were punctuated by third and fourth-quarter breakouts as the team’s lack of experience revealed itself as a weakness at times.
3. There were flashes of potential, they simply did not hit at full power.
The Cougs have kept it close at times with stronger opponents such as Texas Tech, Gonzaga and Portland this season. Role players like Covill and Gardner made solid contributions in the tournament. WSU had Portland scrambling during the first 20 minutes of the semifinal. The Cougs went 6-of-15 on threes against Pacific. The issue is, there has been very little consistency in these highs.
WSU is a ready and willing three-point shooting team, and when it hits, they tend to be victorious. Going two-of-18 against Portland led to the team squandering a double-digit lead. While Mendes led the way with rebounding and Wallack showed consistency, the team still struggled to use its size to its advantage. While the bench delivered a pair of strong outings, no clear sixth woman has developed on this team.
The season included a variety of successes that built up to a optimistic view heading into the WCC tournament. Setting program records in single-season blocks and three-pointers made along with a number of freshmen weekly honors showed this Cougar team can hang with many upper-tier opponents at the team’s peak.
One more win in the tournament and the team may have been able to reach the WBIT, which features tougher competition this year than the WNIT. A Wallack breakout game or a few more clutch threes and this team may have knocked off OSU to head to the Big Dance. Instead, the Cougs have the opportunity to run through a favorable WNIT field and build some postseason experience for a young developing team.
