Hyett’s Hot Hand Halts Cougar Skid

Despite having only eight players, Washington State found a cure for its five-game losing streak Saturday afternoon in Harmon Gym.

WSU got 21 points and 14 assists from Jade Hyett and drilled California 83-70 in a Pacific-10 Conference women’s matchup.

The Cougars (9-14, 3-11 in the Pac-10) played without reserve guard Jennifer Ludwicki, who missed the trip because of a disciplinary suspension. Four other players are injured.

Still, the Cougars had enough to stop the Golden Bears (6-18, 2-13) and stay out of the league cellar.

Hyett, already WSU’s single-season assist leader with 182, also had seven steals to set a single-season record with 106 - two more than the 1979 total of Jeanne Eggart (Helfer).

Washington St. 83, California 70

Washington St. (9-14, 3-11) - Evans 4-9 1-3 11, Saneholtz 4-10 3-5 11, Kunze 8-12 2-6 18, Hyett 4-7 13-13 21, J. Smith 5-9 0-1 14, Rubio 1-2 4-5 6, McNeely 1-2 0-1 2. Totals 27-51 23-34 83.

California (6-18, 2-13) - Czepiec 4-13 3-3 11, Kennon 0-3 3-5 3, Leander 10-18 3-3 23, Rizzo 5-14 0-0 14, S. Smith 3-7 2-4 9, Folsom 0-1 0-0 0 McDaniel 1-2 0-0 2, Churchill 2-3 4-8 8, Snijder 0-1 0-0 0, Tamony 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-62 15-23 70.

Halftime score-California 33, WSU 28. Three-point goals-WSU 6-10 (J. Smith 4-7, Evans 2-2, Hyett 0-1), California 5-21 (Rizzo 4-13, S. Smith 1-1, Snijder 0-1, Czepiec 0-6). Fouled out-Leander, Kennon, Saneholtz. Rebounds- WSU 41 (Evans 11), California 34 (Leander 9). Assists-WSU 19 (Hyett 14), California 14 (Czepiec 4). Total fouls-WSU 18, California 28. Attendance-571.