WSU Women Fall To No. 4 Stanford 72-50 on Senior Day - SWX Right Now-Sports for Spokane, CdA, Tri-Cities, WA

WSU Women Fall To No. 4 Stanford 72-50 on Senior Day

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University dropped its regular-season finale 72-50 to No. 4 Stanford University at Beasley Coliseum Saturday.

Freshman guard Lia Galdeira, the top-scoring freshman in the country, led the Cougars (10-19, 6-12 Pac-12) with eight points and seven rebounds while freshman forward Mariah Cooks added six points and six rebounds. Stanford improved to 28-2 overall and 17-1 in conference play after shooting 42.9 percent from the floor and holding WSU to 28.9 percent from the floor including 1-of-14 from behind the arc. Junior forward Chiney Ogwumike led the Cardinal with 28 points and 13 rebounds.

Senior center Carly Noyes became WSU's career leader in games played, appearing in her 123rd career game, breaking Jazmine Perkins previous record of 122. Redshirt-senior guard Katie Grad appeared in 118th career game to move her into a tie for third on WSU's all-time games played list with Rosie Tarnowski.

Noyes scored the first bucket of the game with a spin move on the left block but the Cardinal answered with a 12 straight points to build an early lead. Cooks and fellow freshman Taylor Edmondson answered with four straight points for WSU as Cooks scored on her own post move before Edmondson finished a fast break with a layup and a free throw after she was fouled on the play.

Minutes later, Washington State saw Galdeira knock down a baseline jumper and junior forward Sage Romberg followed with a pair runners in the lane to cut the Stanford lead to seven, 21-15 at the nine minute mark. Ogwumike and the Cardinal low post players countered with an 15-4 run to build a 35-19 advantage before WSU's junior forward Hana Potter closed the half by hitting a jumper from the top of the key at the buzzer.

Stanford owned a 35-21 lead the half after shooting over 48 percent and receiving 22 points from Ogwumike. WSU was led by Romberg and Galderia who each scored four points in the first 20 minutes.

The Cardinal opened the second half with a three and continued to extend their lead throughout the second 20 minutes. Freshman guard Dawnyelle Awa later hit a jumper from the right wing and Cooks connected on a turnaround jumper from the right elbow for the Cougars. Redshirt-junior guard Ireti Amojo capped WSU's scoring with a three from the left corner.

Stanford owned a double-digit lead throughout the second half and went on to post the 72-50 victory.

Washington State will head to Seattle next week for the Pac-12 Conference Tournament held at Key Arena. The Cougars will play in the Thursday's opening round against an opponent that will be announced Sunday.