LOS ANGELES - It looked like the Washington state women's basketball team was going to continue its long-running fun at the Pac-12 Conference game at the Gallen Center on Friday.
The Cougars, who had lost four of their last five games as they entered the day, were struggling out of the gate against a solid USC team.
Then, WSU rose from its sleep.
The Cougars scored 49 points in the middle two quarters, offset a terrible first quarter, and registered a 71–63 win against the Trojans.
Washington State (10-5, 2-2), which recently started the season 8-1 before the downturn, missed 13 of its first 14 shots after trailing 17-3 at the end of the first quarter. .
But suddenly, everything started clicking. Trailing 25-8 with seven minutes to go before halftime, junior guard Johanna Tedder was fouled while attempting 3. He canned all three free throws, and it took 12-1 to bring the Cougars back. They are still 26-21 behind with 3:54 left, but this was the juice they needed.
Washington State scored 27 points in the quarter and went into the locker room with a 37-30 deficit.
The Cougars six, pulling 47-45, left senior forward Ula Motuga in the third with 4:43. After the Trojans (8-5, 1-2) hit a free throw to make it a three-point game, WSU went on to lead 7-0, having received five points from Tedder - who finished with 20 - to make it a quarter. to place in the top 52-48. It was a two-figure game going into fourth place.
USC briefly took the lead early in the final quarter, but newcomer Tara Walker's 3 gave the Cougar the lead for good and it started 8-0. Sophomore guard Charlize Lager-Walker, who had 13 points, made the last six points of the rapid to propel WSU 60-53.
Motuga had 14 points and five rebounds, and junior post Bela Murekate added 10 points and six rebounds.
Jordan Jenkins added 20 points to the Trojans and 15 points to Bella Perkins.
Washington State will play the next match at UCLA on Sunday afternoon.
Washington State (10-5, 2-2)
Tedder 5-14 6-7 20, Motuga 5-8 0-0 14, C. Lager-Walker 5-17 3-3 13, Murectete 4-6 2-2 10, K. Lager-Walker 1-5 4- 4 6, Wallace 3-10 0-0 7, Sarwar 0-0 1-2 1. Total 23-60 16-18 71.
USC (8-5, 1-2)
Jenkins 8-11 3-3 20, Perkins 5-8 0-0 15, Peele 2-11 0-0 6, Reid 1-7 2-4 4, Caldwell 1-8 0-0 3, Marshall 3-7 0 -0 6, Miura 2-3 0-0 6, Akunwafo 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 23-57 6-9 63.
Washington State 3 27 22 19-71
USC 17 20 13 13-63
3-Point Goals - Washington State 9-28 (Motuga 4-5, Tedders 4-10, Wallack 1-3, K. Lager-Walker 0-2, C. Lager-Walker 0-8), USC 11-22 ( Perkins 5-6, Miura 2-3, Pilli 2-5, Jenkins 1-1, Caldwell 1-4, Reed 0-3). Foul out - Caldwell. Rebounds - Washington State 35 (Moorket 6), USC 34 (Caldwell 7). Assists - Washington State 15 (K. Leger-Walker 6), USC 18 (Reed 9). Total fouls — Washington State 12, USC 15. A — N/A.
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