Cougars take a winning attitude into Pac-10
Not a lot is going Washington State’s way, but the Cougars are still going well.
Despite just three home games and two major injuries, the Cougs are 6-2, matching the win total from each of the last two years.
Now WSU starts Pac-10 play at home with the best travel combo for the fans who may want to see the new-look Cougars. Unfortunately, students have left for Christmas break, negating any home-court advantage.
No. 10 Stanford (5-2) is the opponent tonight and Thursday it’s Cal (8-2), picked to finish low in the powerful league.
Such is the lot for fourth-year WSU coach Sherri Murrell, who none-the-less remains excited about her team.
“Our goal was to win (in the preseason). I think we did that,” Murrell said, despite the recent loss at No. 14 Minnesota. “We learned how to win, we learned how to when on the road, we learned what it takes to be a Top 10 program by playing them on the road. Those are valuable lessons going into the Pac-10.”
Murrell isn’t predicting an upper-division finish, but she does expect her team to be competitive. And if that happens, who knows.
“My goal, if we can get close to these teams like we did last year, I want the outcome to be on the other side now,” she said. “That’s my goal. We’ve got to be competitive, turn those games into close wins, not close loses.”
Two things have made a huge difference for WSU – freshman point guard Katie Appleton and size inside, two things that were missing.
“Offensively, Katie has been very poised,” Murrell said. “Her scoring and floor leadership is what we have consistently lacked. Defensively, she’s really had to learn, but she’s a kid who’s in the film room non-stop. Hopefully, that dedication pays off. She’s not afraid of competition.
“The post players, the young kids, are doing a good job (defensively). They’re giving us a presence we haven’t had before. Offensively, the young kids are still learning.”
The Cougars were hurt when junior wing Adriane Ferguson shattered a pinky that could keep her out until February. Freshman Amanda DuRocher helped fill the void but suffered a broken right wrist. She might be able to return this week. Her absence has forced Appleton to play some off-guard.
The up side is others are quickly gaining experience, which should help in league play.
Though the Pac-10 hasn’t posted many big wins – going 4-15 against teams in the Top 25 – going into games Monday every team had a winning record except 4-4 Arizona. Arizona State (8-1) has two of those wins. Washington (7-2) is probably the biggest surprise with a win over Top 25 Utah.
“We have something we’ve never had before; we know how to win games, we’ve been tested on the road,” Murrell said. “That’s a confidence we haven’t had; our team believes in each other, that’s a difference maker.”
Bad loss
Eastern Washington has high hopes of challenging Montana in the Big Sky Conference, but two days after the Grizzlies beat Santa Clara in a shootout the Broncos clocked the Eagles 85-54.
After shooting less than 20 percent in the Thursday game the Eagles reconvened for a midnight practice.
“Santa Clara knows how to score and teams that play them had better do something on the offensive end of the court,” said EWU coach Wendy Schuller. “Defensively, we didn’t do anything that we wanted to do and as a team we need to evaluate where we go from here and how to improve. It is not a good feeling, but we will learn from this and improve.”
Looking ahead
Eastern is at Northwestern State on Tuesday and at Texas A&M on Thursday. Idaho is at Montana (7-2) on Tuesday. Struggling Gonzaga (3-8) is at Denver on Wednesday and returns home to face San Jose on Friday.
Between Christmas and New Year’s the Cougars make the Arizona trip. Idaho is home against Portland State on Dec. 28 and plays at Eastern on Dec. 30. Gonzaga goes to Utah Valley State on Dec. 30.