Cougs Open Weekend in LA this Friday with the Trojans

LOS ANGELES – The Washington State women's basketball team continues its three-game Pac-12 Conference road trip this Friday, Jan. 14, as the Cougars head to the City of Angels to take on Southern California. Tip-off from the Galen Center is set for 7 p.m. PT and will air live on Pac-12 Network Washington.

WASHINGTON STATE (9-5, 1-2 Pac-12) at Southern California (8-4, 1-1 Pac-12) | Friday, Jan. 12 | 7 p.m. PT | Galen Center
  Live Stats | Stat Broadcast
  Watch | Pac-12 Network Washington (Anne Marie Anderson and Tammy Blackburn)
  Listen | WSU IMG Radio Network (Steve Grubbs)
  Game Notes | Click Here

STARTING FIVE
>> The Cougars head into Los Angeles looking to get back on the winning track after dropping back-to-back contests to No. 2/3 Stanford and at then-No. 4/5-ranked Arizona. With its recent two-game skid, Washington State stands at 9-5 overall on the year and 1-2 in Pac-12 heading into Friday's matchup against the Trojans.

>> Washington State looks to snap an eight-game losing streak to Southern California. The Cougars' last win over the Trojans came back on Jan. 8, 2017, when WSU picked up a 74-57 win at Beasley Coliseum. The Cougars last win over the Women of Troy inside the Galen Center came back on Jan. 31, 2014 (79-75). Last season, Washington State came to Galen Center as a ranked team for the first time in program history. The then No. 25-ranked Cougars fell to the Trojans, 81-77, in overtime.

>> The Cougs are an even 3-3 this season in true road games. WSU won its first three road games of the 2021-22 season before dropping its last three, two of which have come against ranked foes.

>> Washington State is 9-1 against non-ranked teams this season. Friday's matchup against Southern Cal will mark the first time in 2022 that the Cougars will play a non-ranked team, as WSU rang in the new year against No. 2/3 Stanford and then No. 4/5-ranked Arizona. The Cougars are 29-11 against non-ranked teams over the last three seasons.

>> The Leger-Walker sisters are once again one of the more potent backcourts in the Pac-12 this season. Sophomore Charlisse Leger-Walker currently ranks second in the Pac-12 in points scored with 233, while redshirt fifth-year senior Krystal Leger-Walker is second in the conference in assists with 65.

Locking Teams Up
Washington State enters the weekend ranked inside the top-75 nationally in scoring defense. The Cougars currently rank 70th in scoring defense, as WSU is giving up 58.1 points per game. The Cougs have held teams under 64 points in all but three games this season.

Launching from Deep
The Cougars rank second in the Pac-12 and 68th nationally in 3-point field goal attempts with 310. WSU's 93 made 3-point field goals is third-most in the conference and is the 83rd-most 3-pointers made in NCAA Division I this season. Sophomore Charlisse Leger-Walker's team-best 31 3-point field goals are the third-most in the Pac-12.

Leading the Conference
Junior Bella Murekatete currently paces the conference in total rebounds with 107. Sophomore Charlisse Leger-Walker leads the Pac-12 in field goals made (82), field goals attempted (220), 3-point field goal attempts (101), minutes played (503:39) and minutes played per game (35.97).

Lending a Hand
Redshirt fifth-year senior Krystal Leger-Walker has handed out an assist in 79-straight games heading into Friday's contest against the Trojans. The streak began back on Jan. 27, 2018, when Leger-Walker was at Northern Colorado. The point guard has handed out 552 assists in her career, 174 of which have come during her time at Washington State.

NET Ranking
Washington State heads into this weekend's slate of games in Los Angeles ranked 75th in the NET ranking. The NET is used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee to determine at-large bids and seeding.

Scouting the Trojans
The Women of Troy come into Friday's matchup against Washington State on a high-note, as Southern California knocked off then-No. 4/5 Arizona, 76-67, on Sunday in the Galen Center. The Trojans stand at 8-4 overall on the year, while they are an even 1-1 in Pac-12 games. USC enters the weekend with a NET ranking of 54.

Graduate senior Jordan Sanders leads the team in scoring at 11.9 points per game on 37.5 shooting percentage. Sophomore Jordyn Jenkins follows at 11.6 points per game, as she has scored double-digits in five of her last six games. Freshman Rayah Marshall is chipping in 10.3 points per game and a team-best 8.0 rebounds per contest off the bench. Junior Alissa Pili, the 2019-20 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, is averaging 9.1 points and 5.8 caroms per contest.

As a team, Southern California is averaging 69.2 points per game. The Trojans are shooting 41.6 percent from the field as a team, while connecting on 34.3 percent of their shots from behind the arc. USC is giving up 59.3 points per game to its opposition. Teams are shooting 34.3 percent from the field against the Trojans, while posting a 28.8 percent success rate from behind the arc.

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