Before Washington State begins the Pac-12 season, a tough nonconference stretch will challenge the Cougars. Coach June Daugherty welcomes the challenge. Read story

Daugherty said WSU's defense has had some dominant stretches this season. She said the Cougars' defensive goals include winning the rebounding battle and keeping teams off-balance.

Again, Daugherty said, the defensive problem has been executing at a high level for all 40 minutes.

Daugherty said the Cougars' trying schedule is drawn up to prepare WSU for one of the top three conferences in the country.

Daugherty talked at length about her six freshmen, showing her excitement about the Cougars' potential improvement in coming years.

"But truly, right now my focus is to make sure that the upperclassmen are playing at a high level and bringing along the younger players," she said.

WSU's loss at Fresno State included a 27-point effort by former Cougar Ki-Ki Moore. Daugherty said Moore's transfer was just "part of life" and that WSU had no hard feelings about the transfer to Fresno State.

---

---