MINNEAPOLIS – For the second time in two days, the Washington State University women's basketball suffered an overtime defeat, falling 65-56 to South Dakota State University in the consolation game of the Best Buy Classic Sunday.
Washington State had its record slip to 0-2 while South Dakota State improved to 1-1. The Cougars shot 32.9 percent from the floor and forced the Jackrabbits into 17 turnovers. SDSU outscored WSU 15-6 in overtime and knocked down seven threes on the day while the Cougars finished the game 1-of-15 from behind the arc.
Sophomore guard Tia Presley led a balanced effort for Washington State, notching a team-high 13 points along with career highs of eight rebounds and five assists. Freshman guard Lia Galdeira added 12 points and six boards while junior forward and Minnesota native Hana Potter grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. Junior guard Brandi Thomas and freshman forward Mariah Cooks each chipped in with seven points.
Midway through the first half, the Cougars received a big boost from their bench as Cooks ignited an 8-0 run. The freshman scored six of the eight points during a two minute stretch that resulted in a 20-18 advantage for Washington State at the 6:01 mark.
The WSU run extended to 14-4 as senior center Carly Noyes, Presley and Thomas each added buckets during the run to send the Cougars into the half leading 26-22.
Washington State held the lead for most of the second half before the Jackrabbits used a 13-3 run late in the period to take a six point lead 5:51 remaining.
The Cougars battled back, holding SDSU scoreless for the remainder of the period and scoring the final six points of regulation. Presley hit a jumper, as did Galdeira and Potter finished a fastbreak with a layin to tie the game at 50 at the 1:37 mark. Neither team was able to connect during the final 97 seconds, sending WSU to its second overtime game in as many days.
South Dakota State scored the first seven points of the extra period and hit five of its seven shots in overtime. WSU was unable to get anything going offensively as SDSU extended its lead to nine with just over a minute to go and held on for the win.
The Cougars return to Pullman to open a three-game homestand, beginning Friday against Monmouth University (N.J.) at 5 p.m. in Beasley Coliseum.
GAME NOTES
WSU played in consecutive overtime games for the first time since the 1980-81 team did so against Montana State (2/28/81) and at Boise State (3/7/81)…Galdeira was named the All-Tournament team after registering 33 points against Minnesota Saturday and 12 points Sunday.
