WSU Tests Success In Dial Classic
If it’s Dial Soap Classic time, it must be time for the Washington State women’s basketball team to clean up.
The host Cougars, picked to finish last in the Pacific-10 Conference but off to respectable 2-1 start, have won the Classic six times in the past seven years. This is the 19th straight tournament, making the Classic the oldest Division I women’s basketball tournament in the state.
This year, WSU plays host to Vermont (4-1) Boise State (0-4) and Northwestern State (4-0) of Natchitoches, La.
Vermont and Boise State open at 5:30 p.m. Friday, followed by WSU vs. Northwestern State. The consolation game will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, followed by the final. All games will be played at Friel Court.
Vermont’s only loss was to No. 1 Tennessee 92-52. Northwestern State’s wins have been over Norfolk State, Southwestern Louisiana and Louisiana College.
Look for Washington State to go with a starting lineup that includes freshman guards Tricia Lamb and Katie Nyseth and freshman forward Alke Dietel. Lamb, from St. John-Endicott, begin her college career by scoring 24 points against Colorado State.
WSU coach Harold Rhodes said his team is almost at full strength with Joanna Smith (appendix) targeted to return in time for the Kona (Hawaii) Basketball Classic, Dec. 19-21.
They’re hoping winning is contagious
Nothing like a win to erase the terrible feeling of a 111-38 defeat.
One day after Eastern Washington lost to Santa Clara at the Broncos’ tournament by the worst score in school history, the Eagles (1-3) showed some character by beating Iona 50-48 in the consolation final.
“It’s given them a little bit of confidence. I’m hoping the win will keep us going in the right direction,” first-year coach Jocelyn Pfeifer said.
The Eagles will attempt to ride the momentum into Moscow tonight where they face Idaho (1-5). The Vandals beat the Eagles twice last year (70-52 and 66-61).
Keeping an eye on the stars
Megan Franza, the former Cascade Leavenworth standout who played on the 18U Spokane Stars this past summer, has helped Washington jump out to a 3-0 start. Franza scored 17 points in the Huskies’ 63-62 upset over No. 20 Iowa. UW will be here Tuesday to play Gonzaga (2-1) at 7 p.m.
Portland State’s Hiedi Hatcher, also an 18U Spokane Star, was named the Big Sky Conference’s player of the week for the week of Nov. 24. Hatcher, a 6-foot-1 freshman from Tumwater, Wash., totaled 33 points, 15 rebounds and four steals to lead the Vikings to a split during the week.
We knew them when
Many of the athletes who played in the AAU Girls Basketball Championships here in 1996 are off to excellent collegiate careers.
Nikki Teasley, a member of the 16U Maryland Chesapeake Hurricanes, was averaging 13.5 points and leading No. 1 Tennessee in assists through four games. Freshman teammate Tamika Catchings of 18U champion Team Texas, was averaging 15 points and a team-high 8.3 rebounds.
At Georgia, twins Coco and Kelly Miller each scored 24 points in the Bulldogs’ opener and after two games, Coco was averaging 21 points and Kelly 20. The two played AAU ball for the Minnesota North Tartan Blues.
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