WSU Women’s Basketball: Young Cougar Squad Hosts Arizona

Could this be a breakout season for Coach June Daugherty’s Washington State women’s basketball?

There are a number of factors pointing toward good things for WSU women’s hoops.

Upgraded roster talent could prove to be both a good thing and a bad thing.

The good is rooted in the way Coach Daugherty’s squad finished last season when they made an unexpected deep run in the Pac-12 tournament. Momentum from finishing last season on a high note has carried through the off season and into the current schedule.

Washington State (4-7) has taken on some outstanding opponents in the non-conference half of their schedule. Two of their victories came over nationally ranked Ohio State and rival Gonzaga.

First year player Lia Galdeira has adjusted to the college game quickly having already earned back-to-back Pac-12 Freshman of the Week accolades. No other player in program history has achieved that level of play. Galdeira was the best high school player coming out of Hawaii earning top state honors the past three years. Perhaps she will match or even exceed the career of another Cougar hoops great from the islands, men’s BB star Derrick Low. With Lia leading the way in scoring, rebounding and steals it’s understandable why Coach Daughtery suggests this is the best class she’s recruited to Pullman.

The bad or downside to this team is the lack of college experience. Daughtery’s roster features six freshmen and three sophomore student-athletes. That lack of Division I experience will create an on-job or trial-by-fire scenario for a team focused on moving the women’s basketball program forward.

Senior Carly Noyes  from Moses Lake, WA, anchors the frontline for the Cougs. At 6’5”, she’s a shot blocking force in the middle. It’s likely Noyes will finish her hoops career as the top shot blocker in school history.

If the Cougs are going to enjoy a measure of success in conference play, the key is simple. They have to get better on the boards. When it comes to rebounding, WSU has not been able to get the job done…yet.

Pac-12 play begins Friday night at 7pm when the Cougs host Arizona who brings an 8-3 record to Pullman. Things won’t get much easier Sunday when Arizona State comes into town with an equally glossy record of 8-4.

The key to the Arizona game will be determined behind the 3-point arc. The ‘Cats are the best in the league, converting an impressive 35.3% of their long distance treys. However, WSU has held their opponents to a conversion rate of just 23.8% from downtown…best in the Pac-12.

Arizona State currently has a 5-game winning streak and is led by sharp shooting  Micaela Pickens who is making a scorching 41.7% of her 3-pointers. Tipoff between the Sun Devils and Cougars is set for 1pm Sunday afternoon on Friel Court.

Following WSU women’s hoops will be enhanced this season with every home game being  web-streamed on the Pac-12 Network. There is no subscription required to view the Lady Cougs on pac-12.com. If you can’t make it to Beasley to take in a WSU team that is on the rise, point your web browser to: http://pac-12.com/Sports/BasketballW.aspx

GO COUGS!!!