It’S Cougs’ Big Chance Vs. Huskies

If there was ever a time for Washington State to win a women’s basketball game in Seattle, this Sunday should be it when they play before a Fox Sports Net TV audience.

The Washington Huskies are having their worst season since the women’s Pacific-10 Conference was created in 1986-87. Sure, they stunned Stanford, 85-83, at Hec Edmundson Pavilion Thursday to record the 500th win in the program’s history. But their encore was a 72-59 flop against Cal, dropping them to 6-14 and 2-6 for eighth place in the conference.

So now would be the time for Washington State to do something it hasn’t done in six years and has only done twice in the last 36 games.

Beat the Huskies.

Problem is, WSU (4-14, 1-7) still is looking up at Washington from the bottom of the Pac-10.

“I certainly had hoped for better results,” said Washington State first-year coach Jenny Przekwas, who picked up her first Pac-10 win against Cal. “I thought we were capable of more wins at this point in the season, but it didn’t materialize. I didn’t expect it to be this tough of an adjustment for my style of basketball.”

Sunday’s biggest challenge is expected to defending guards Megan Franza and Loree Payne. The two lead the conference in scoring with 19.3 and 18.0 points per game, respectively.

In the past, WSU counted on Tricia Lamb for a big chunk of its offense. But Lamb, the second-leading scorer in the Pac-10 for the 1998-99 season, quit the team in January.

“I was disappointed for the Pac-10,” said UW coach June Daugherty. “Obviously, she was one of the premier players in the conference. I’m sure she and her coaching staff did a lot of thinking about her decision.”

Is it Idaho’s turn?

Examining the previous standings, it only seems logical, if not fair.

The Big West Conference Eastern Division has dispersed its title most recently to North Texas, Boise State and Nevada. That leaves this year open for Idaho or New Mexico State.

The Aggies (7-11 overall) are in fourth place at 2-4, so consider them near done. The Vandals (11-7) are tied for first with Boise State (11-7) at 4-1, so consider them the one.

The division outcome will become clearer Sunday afternoon when Idaho puts its nine-game home winning streak up against Boise State.

But first, the Vandals face a tough Pacific (11-6, 2-3) squad on Friday in Stockton, Calif. The Vandals are 3-2 vs. Pacific since joining the Big West, but 0-2 at Pacific.

Bulldogs, Eagles on road

Eastern Washington (7-11, 3-5), winners of three of its last four games at home, finds itself in the mix for one of the six spots in the Big Sky Conference tournament, March 9-11. The Eagles are in sixth place but they play six of their final eight games on the road, beginning with Weber State (7-11, 5-3) tonight and Portland State (6-13, 4-4) on Saturday.

Gonzaga (9-10, 2-4) also has a tough road ahead at Pepperdine (11-8, 4-2) Friday and Loyola Marymount (10-9, 3-3) Saturday. The Bulldogs have won four of the last five vs. LMU but have lost nine straight to Pepperdine.

GU is tied for sixth place with the West Coast Conference tournament one month away.

“Realistically we could finish in fifth place,” GU coach Kellee Barney said. “If we get our act together, we could finish in the top four.”

Olson stars again

Whitworth College senior guard Star Olson was named Northwest Conference player of the week this week for her 55-point combined effort against Lewis & Clark and George Fox. Olson made 22 of 38 shots (58 percent) and had seven steals and two blocks.

Olson also was named player of the week on Dec. 24-Jan. 2.

The fourth-place Pirates (11-6, 5-3) travel to first-place Linfield ( 13-5, 8-1) and seventh-place Pacific University 8-9, 2-7) this weekend.

3-pointers

The top two teams in the NWAACC East Division meet Saturday when Community Colleges of Spokane (20-2, 6-1) travels to Wenatchee (22-2, 6-1). The winner will be in a great position to earn the No. 1 seed and homecourt advantage in the regional tournament, Feb. 24 and 26. CCS must first must take care of Columbia Basin College (6-12, 1-5), tonight in Pasco.

Schedule

Today: Eastern Washington at Weber State, 6 p.m.; CC Spokane at Columbia Basin, 8 p.m.;

Thursday: Utah Valley at North Idaho College, 5:30 p.m.; Gonzaga at Pepperdine, 7 p.m.

Friday: Whitworth at Linfied, 6 p.m.; Idaho at Pacific, 7 p.m.;

Saturday: Whitworth at Pacific U., 6 p.m.; Gonzaga at Loyola Marymount, 7 p.m.; Eastern Washington at Portland State, 7 p.m.; CC Spokane at Wenatchee, 8 p.m.

Sunday: Washington State at Washington, 1 p.m.; Boise State at Idaho, 2 p.m.