Cougars Anticipate Tough Challenge This Weekend
Hell week on college campuses is usually considered the week of finals. For the Washington State women’s basketball team, hell week is preparation for Southern California and UCLA.
The Cougars host the Bruins at Friel Court Thursday at 7 p.m. and then host the Trojans, also on Friel Court, at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Since joining the Pac-10, the Cougars are 7-25 against both schools - 2-14 against UCLA and 5-11 against Southern Cal.
“That’s true, but six of those wins came on our homecourt,” Cougars coach Harold Rhodes said.
The Cougars (0-2 Pac-10, 7-4) can’t afford to lose both games this weekend. An 0-4 conference start, especially in the Pac-10, could doom WSU in the long run.
“We’re in the toughest part of our schedule,” Rhodes said. “Cal and Stanford on the road last weekend, SC and UCLA this weekend, that’s not easy. Those are some of the best programs you’ll find in the country.”
King will probably get hardship
Because EWU senior Nicole King played in less than 20 percent of the Eagles’ games and hasn’t redshirted, she will most likely qualify for an injury hardship and regain a year of eligibility. She barely qualifies. Eastern has 26 games this season. Five games equals 19 percent of the season.
King, who led EWU in scoring in its first four games and has a team-leading 13.2 scoring average, is lost for the season with a knee injury. She hyperextended it in practice in early December.
Hutchinson making mark
St. George’s High alum Kari Hutchinson, now a member of the Notre Dame women’s team, is making a quick adjustment to college basketball. At 2-6, the rest of the Fighting Irish aren’t faring so well.
Hutchinson has played in seven of Notre Dame’s eight games, starting four. She is averaging 25 points a game, shooting 41 percent from the floor, 36 percent from behind the 3-point line and 65 percent from the free-throw line.
She is second on the team in assists, averaging 3.2 per game, but leads the team in turnovers at five a game.
Getting technical
With the Minnesota Golden Gophers and No. 19 Purdue Boilermakers knotted at 66 last Sunday, Minnesota’s Cara Pearson stepped to the free-throw line with no time left in regulation, made the first free throw, and gave her team the apparent victory.
But wait.
As Pearson’s teammates mauled her at the free-throw line, the referee assessed a technical foul for excessive celebration. Pearson proceeded to sink her second free throw for a 68-66 Gophers lead.
Purdue’s Stacy Lovelace then made the first technical foul shot, but her second attempt rolled off the left side of the rim, and Minnesota won its second straight game over a ranked team.
Engaging coaches
When the Bulldogs host San Diego Thursday night at 7 at the Martin Centre, Gonzaga coach Kellee Knowles and Toreros assistant coach Mike Barney may be scouting more than the opposition. Knowles and Barney plan to get married on Aug. 12.