FRESNO, Calif. – Washington State University dropped an 82-59 decision at Fresno State University Friday. Junior forward Brandi Thomas led the Cougars with 11 points after knocking down three from behind the arc..
WSU (2-5) shot 40 percent from the field but were held to 34.5 percent in the second half while Fresno State shot 51.6 percent from the floor and outscored the Cougars 51-24 in the second half. The Bulldogs, an NCAA Tournament participant the last five seasons, improved their record to 3-2.
Freshman guard Lia Galdeira added 10 points and sophomore guard Tia Presley finished with eight points. Freshman forward Mariah Cooks posted seven points and three rebounds off the bench while sophomore forward Shalie Dheensaw added six points and five boards.
The Cougars jumped all over Fresno State in the opening minutes as Galdeira, Thomas and Romberg each knocked down threes before Presley capped the 11-0 run with a driving layup.
Midway through the first half, FSU settled in and put together its own 11-0 run and later took its first lead of the game 31-30 with 1:33 remaining. The Cougars battled back and closed the half with an 8-2 run as Thomas and Presley highlighted the run with a pair of threes by Thomas and a layup from Presley who capped the run by winning a scramble for a rebound on the offensive end and got the layup to fall seconds before the buzzer sounded.
Thomas led WSU with nine first-half points as Fresno State kept things close by scoring 14 points off of the Cougars ten turnovers.
Romberg opened the second half with a bucket and Noyes followed minutes later with a pair of baskets but Fresno State answered in a big way. The Bulldogs went to their press and put together a deciding 24-9 run that gave them a double-digit lead midway through half.
Thomas brought WSU within 11 with a nice turnaround in the lane and junior forward Hana Potter drew a charge. Fresno State came right back down with a bucket and another three to pull away for good.
The Cougars will have two weeks off to focus on finals before hosting The Ohio State University Saturday, Dec. 15 at Beasley Coliseum.
