Cougars Host No. 3 Stanford Friday On Pac-12 Networks
No. 3/3 STANFORD at WASHINGTON STATE
6 p.m. • Friday • Feb. 7
Beasley Coliseum (11,671)
Pullman, Wash.
COUGARS HOST NO. 3/3 STANFORD FRIDAY ON THE PAC-12 NETWORKS: Washington State University (12-10, 6-4 PAc-12) returns to Beasley Coliseum hosting No. 3/3 Stanford University (21-1, 10-0 Pac-12) Friday at 6 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
FRIDAY PLAY 4 KAY BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: WSU athletics will be helping raise awareness for the fight against breast cancer by participating in the national Play 4 Kay campaign during Friday’s game against Stanford. Pink Play 4 Kay T-shirts will be given to the first 400 fans. Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of Play 4 Kay. All fans wearing pink can purchase a general admission ticket for $2.
ON DECK: WSU hosts No. 23/22 University of California Sunday at 2 p.m. on the Pac-12 Networks.
LISTEN IN: Fans can follow the Cougars during the regular season on Pullman’s KHTR (104.3 FM), KQQQ 1150 AM or go to WSUCougars.com and listen online. Steve Grubbs will be calling the play-by-play for the Cougs.
COUGAR ATHLETICS ON THE WEB: Connect with Washington State University Athletics on the web at WSUCougars.com, the official website of Cougar Athletics. Every home game will be webstreamed through the Pac-12 Networks at http://pac-12.com/videos/washington-state-university.
FOLLOW THE COUGS ON TWITTER: Follow Washington State women’s basketball on twitter @WSUWomensHoops and head coach June Daugherty @CoachJuneD.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE: The Cougars own an 12-10 record and 6-4 in Pac-12 play after splitting the two games in Los Angeles last weekend, beating USC 79-75 before falling to UCLA 79-72. The Cougars own three wins over ranked teams this season and enter the week having faced the nation’s No. 15-toughest schedule. Junior guard Tia Presley leads the team and is sixth in the conference in scoring at 18.2 ppg while sophomore guard Lia Galdeira is tied for seventh in the Pac-12 in scoring at 18.0 ppg including 18.2 ppg in Pac-12 play, ninth-highest in the league. In Pac-12 play, junior center Shalie Dheensaw is averaging 9.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg and shooting nearly 55 percent from the field while posting three double-doubles.
COUGAR NOTES
• Lia Galdeira is ninth in the conference in scoring during Pac-12 play at 18.2 ppg
• Galdeira and Presley each own seven 20-point scoring efforts this season
• Shalie Dheensaw’s first two career double-doubles came in the two wins over Washington, her third career double-double came last Friday in the win over USC
• WSU started Pac-12 play 5-0 for the first time since starting NWBL play 5-0 in 1977-78
• WSU has won four straight against Arizona State and six straight against the Arizona schools
• WSU snapped a 36-game losing streak to Washington, winning for the first time since 1995
• WSU recorded its first win over Washington in Seattle since 1993, snapping a 20-game skid
• WSU swept Washington in the regular season for the first time since 1974-75
• WSU entered the week No. 69 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings
• WSU owns three wins over ranked teams this season, the most since 1994-95
• WSU’s six conference wins match last year’s total, WSU hasn’t won seven conference games since winning eight in 1995-96
PLAYER NOTES VS. STANFORD
• Last season in the Pac-12 Tournament, Hana Potter had eight points against Stanford
• As a freshman in 2011, Potter had nine points and nine rebounds against Stanford
• As a freshman in 2012, Shalie Dheensaw had seven points at Stanford
• As a freshman in 2012, Tia Presley had six points and four rebounds at Stanford
• Last season, Dawnyelle Awa had six points and four rebounds against Stanford in Pullman, and tallied eight points and five rebounds against Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament
• Last season, Mariah Cooks had six points and six rebounds against Stanford in Pullman, and nine points and five rebounds against Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament
• Last season, Lia Galdeira had 16 points against Stanford in the Pac-12 Tournament
ABOUT STANFORD: Stanford enters the week with a 21-1 overall record and a conference-best 10-0 mark in Pac-12 play. The Cardinal are ranked No. 3 in the latest Associated Press and USA Today Coaches national polls. All-American forward Chiney Ogwumike paces the Pac-12 in scoring at 27.0 ppg and is second in rebounding at 12.0 rpg. Head coach Tara VanDerveer is in her 28th season at Stanford and owns a 763-153 record at the school and a 915--204 career record.
STANFORD-WSU SERIES: Stanford enters Friday leading the all-time series with Washington State 55-0 after taking both meetings last season, 72-50 in Pullman and 79-60 in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament quarterfinal round matchup in Seattle. The Cardinal own a 27-0 mark in Pullman. The Cougars have never beaten a top-five ranked team.
LAST YEAR AGAINST STANFORD IN PULLMAN: Washington State dropped its regular-season finale 72-50 to No. 4 Stanford last season. Lia Galdeira led the Cougars with eight points and seven rebounds while Mariah Cooks added six points and six rebounds. Stanford shot 42.9 percent from the floor and held WSU to 28.9 percent shooting including 1-of-14 from behind the arc. Chiney Ogwumike led the Cardinal with 28 points and 13 rebounds.
LAST YEAR AGAINST STANFORD IN THE PAC-12 TOURNAMENT: WSU suffered a 79-60 defeat to top-seeded Stanford in last season’s Pac-12 Conference Tournament quarterfinals. Lia Galdeira led WSU with 16 points and Mariah Cooks added nine points and five rebounds while Dawnyelle Awa added eight points and five rebounds. Washington State shot 34.7 percent from the field and went 5-of-24 from behind the arc. The Cardinal shot 52.6 percent and knocked down 10 threes. Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike posted game highs of 23 points and 21 rebounds. The Cougars had coach June Daugherty back on the bench a day after she underwent emergency surgery to remove her appendix.
SCHEDULE RANKED 15th TOUGHEST IN THE COUNTRY: According to Jeff Sagarin of College Basketball News, the Cougars enter the week having played the No. 15-toughest schedule in the country. The Cougars beat No. 10 Nebraska and USC on the road, No. 25 Arizona State and No. 21 Colorado in Pullman, and dropped contests to Syracuse, West Virginia (neutral), No. 25 Gonzaga and Dayton (road), with each currently receiving votes in the latest national polls. Syracuse and Gonzaga were each ranked earlier this season.
COUGS AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS: Washington State has gone 3-1 against ranked opponents this season after posting a 76-72 road win at No. 10 Nebraska, a 85-78 victory over No. 24 Arizona State and a 70-60 win over No. 21 Colorado. No. 25 Gonzaga recorded an eight-point win in Pullman Dec. 21. For the first time since 1995, WSU owns three wins over ranked teams in a season.
PRESLEY PUTTING UP BIG NUMBERS: Tia Presley enters the week sixth in the Pac-12 in scoring at 18.2 ppg after posting seven 20-point efforts this season. The junior guard scored 20 points in the season-opener against Syracuse, 29 in the win over Ole Miss in Hawaii, a career-high 37 in the win over Fresno State, 21 while beating Cal State Northridge, 24 in the victory over UC Riverside in Kennewick, Wash., 29 in the win at Washington and 21 in the win at USC. Her 37 points against Fresno State were the second-most in WSU single-game history, four away from the Jenni Ruff’s school record of 41 set in 1996. Presley went 15-of-24 from the floor including a career high five threes. She also grabbed six boards and made three steals. Her 15 made field goals tied for the most in WSU single-game history.
GALDEIRA CONTINUES TO PRODUCE: Lia Galdeira has picked up where she left off from last year’s record-setting freshman season. The sophomore guard enters the week tied for seventh in the Pac-12 in scoring at 18.0 ppg and tied for second in steals with 55. Galdeira’s seven 20-point performances this season are tied with Presley for the team lead. Her 39 made 3-pointers are tied for eighth-most in the Pac-12 this season and twice she has reached the 29-point mark, the first coming in her return to her homestate Hawaii against the Warriors and the other coming at Dayton. Galdeira also scored 20 in the win over Fresno State, 26 in a overtime victory against UC Riverside, 27 in the win over No. 24 Arizona State, 28 in the home victory over Washington and 21 at Oregon State.
ROMBERG CLIMBING WSU RECORD BOOK: Sage Romberg is making the most of her senior season for the Cougars, producing the third-highest 3-point shooting percentage in the Pac-12 at 43.1 percent blocking the second-most shots (23) on the team. The McKinleyville, Calif. native has served a variety of roles for WSU during her four years and the result has put her name throughout the WSU record book. Romberg enters the week sixth in WSU history with 125 made threes, fifth with 81 career blocks, fifth with 117 career games played and ninth with 89 career starts.
DHEENSAW STEPS UP: Shalie Dheensaw has increased her production during Pac-12 play, averaging 9.3 ppg, 7.1 rpg and shooting nearly 55 percent from the field after posting three double-doubles. The junior center broke out in the two wins over Washington, recording the first two double-doubles of her career with 11 points and 14 rebounds in the win in Pullman before pouring in a career high 20 points along with 13 rebounds in the victory in Seattle. She picked up her third double-double of the season, all during Pac-12 play, with 11 points and 11 rebounds at USC. The Vancouver, B.C. native owns the team-lead with 26 blocks, while averaging 7.4 ppg and 7.1 rpg overall. She has scored in double figures six times and posted five double-digit rebound performances in her first season as the starter after sitting behind Carly Noyes the past two seasons who graduated as WSU’s career leader in games played and blocks.
WSU POSTED 70-60 VICTORY OVER NO. 21 COLORADO: WSU knocked off its third-ranked opponent of the season with a 70-60 victory over No. 21/20 Colorado in Pullman. Tia Presley and Lia Galdeira each tallied 17 points for the Cougars. WSU received eight points apiece from Shalie Dheensaw, Dawnyelle Awa and Taylor Edmondson. Dheensaw also grabbed a team-high seven boards and blocked two shots while Awa added five assists and Edmondson knocked down two clutch threes for the Cougars. Washington State shot 41 percent from the floor and held Colorado to 32 percent shooting in the second half and 3-for-18 from behind the arc in the game. The Cougars outrebounded the Buffs 42-36 who entered the night leading the Pac-12 in rebounding margin.
COUGARS KNOCK OFF NO. 10 NEBRASKA IN LINCOLN: Washington State made a season-high 12 threes and held off No. 10 Nebraska twice after building big leads to post a 76-72 upset in Lincoln. Tia Presley led the Cougars with 17 points, seven rebounds, five steals and five assists as four players scored in double figures. It was WSU’s first win over a top-10 ranked team since 1998, beating No. 10 Arizona in Tucson.
COUGARS BEAT OLE MISS AT HAWAII TOURNAMENT: Washington State posted a 1-2 record at the Rainbow Wahine Classic in Honolulu, falling to Hawaii (77-66) and West Virginia (88-66) before closing the tournament with an impressive 79-65 victory over Ole Miss Sunday behind Tia Presley’s career high 29-point effort. The win over Ole Miss is WSU’s first win over an SEC opponent since beating Mississippi State 61-59 in Hawaii in 1997.
GALDEIRA NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM IN HAWAII: Sophomore guard Lia Galdeira capped her return to the islands by earning a spot on the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic All-Tournament Team. The Kamuela, Hawaii native averaged 18.3 ppg and a team-best 7.0 rpg while also recording six steals in the three games. Galdeira poured in a game-high 29 points and added nine rebounds against Hawaii, scored 12 points against West Virginia before tallying 14 points, eight boards and five steals in the win over Ole Miss.
COUGARS INK FOUR FOR 2014 SIGNING CLASS: Washington State women’s basketball signed four players to attend WSU next fall. Joining the Cougars next season are 6-2 guard Ashley Bolston (Medford, Ore.), 5-9 guard Caila Hailey (Inglewood, Calif.), 6-3 forward Nike McClure (Tenino, Wash.) and 5-8 point guard Pinelopi Pavlopoulou (Athens, Greece). This year’s class received honorable mention from Blue Star Basketball as one of the top recruiting classes in the country.
COUGARS TOOK EUROPEAN TRIP IN AUGUST: WSU took a 10-day foreign trip to Austria, Slovakia and Czech Republic this past August. The Cougars departed Pullman Aug. 6, arrived in Vienna Aug. 7 and visited the cities of Vienna (Aug. 7-8), Bratislavia (Aug. 9-11) and Prague (Aug. 12-15). They took in a number of sights including a tour the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Schonrunn Palace, Prater Amusement Park, the Bratislava Castle and the Vltava River before returning home Aug. 16. The Cougars played four games and swept all four contests, beating Levice in Bratslava Aug. 11, Hradec Kralove in Prague Aug. 13, Lokomotiva Karlovy Vary in Prague Aug. 14 and BLK VSE Praha in Prague Aug. 15. Six WSU Ambassadors joined the team on the trip including WSU First Lady Carmento Floyd.
GALDEIRA INVITED TO TEAM USA U19 NATIONAL TEAM TRIALS: Guard Lia Galdeira was selected to attend the 2013 National Team Trials and tryout for the FIBA U19 World Championship Team at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. last May. Galdeira was one of 34 players from throughout the country who received and accepted the invitation.
FORMER COUGS SIGN PRO CONTRACTS: Former Cougars Ireti Amojo and Carly Noyes each signed professional contracts to play in Germany this fall. Both Amojo and Noyes inked deals with the Chemitz Chemcats in Ghemnitz, Germany. The Chemcats are one of 12 teams that play in the DBBL, the highest rated league in Germany. It was the second straight year that multiple Cougars have signed professional contracts. Last summer, Rosetta Adzasu signed to play professionally in Finland and Jazmine Perkins signed to play in Sweden.