Cougar women drop third game in Paradise Jam tournament

ST. THOMAS, USVI — Senior Borislava Hristova tallied a game-high 16 points against No. 17/23 Indiana on Saturday afternoon, but it wasn’t enough to overcome a cold shooting night from the floor for the Washington State University women’s basketball team, as the Cougars dropped their final contest at the Paradise Jam, 78-44.

Hristova got her night started with a bang, as she scored as she scored seven of WSU’s first 13 points to help the Cougs jump out to a 13-7 lead midway through the first. The forward shot an even 50 percent from the field against a stingy Hoosier defense (7-of-14) and flittered with a double-double by pulling down a team-best eight rebounds.

The loss against No. 17/23 Indiana marks the third-straight loss to a ranked opponent for the Cougars at the 2019 Paradise Jam, as they fall to 4-3 overall on the season.

Freshman Bella Murekatete shined for the Cougars off the bench, by tying her career high in points with 10 in a career-high 16 minutes played. The 6-5 center also pulled down a career-best seven boards.

Senior Chanelle Molina hit a three at the 4:05 mark of the first to give the Cougs a 16-13 lead. That would be the last time WSU held an advantage in the game, as Indiana closed out the frame on an 11-2 run to take a 24-18 lead into the second quarter.

Washington State pulled to within three of the Hoosiers at 31-28 after a Hristova jumper with 5:35 left in the second. From that point, Indiana rolled off 14-straight points to end the quarter to take a 45-28 lead into the locker room.

Indiana continued to put pressure on Washington State in the third and fourth quarters, as they outscored WSU 33-16 in the final pair of frames to hand the Cougars a 34-point defeat.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Cougs this week, as they return to action on Wednesday, Dec. 4, against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Beasley Coliseum. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.