WSU women win with stunning 40-point run

The Washington State women’s basketball team put up the game’s first 40 points en route to an 84-34 nonconference victory over Idaho State on Sunday in Pullman. The Cougars led at halftime 51-15. The 50-point margin of victory is the third largest in WSU history behind an 81-point win over Alaska Anchorage in 1979 and 59-point triumph over Pacific Lutheran in 1978. Tia Presley scored 29 points, including a career-high six 3-pointers. Lia Galdeira added 24 points. In their careers, Presley has scored at least 20 points in a game 17 times and Galdeira 18 times. The Cougars shot 41.9 percent while holding Idaho State (0-1) to 20 percent. WSU scored 34 points off 30 Bengals turnovers. The Cougars had a 58-42 rebouding edge with Louise Brown leading the way with 11. Bianca Blanaru blocked five shots. During their 40-0 run to start the game, the Cougars shot 60 percent, hitting four 3-pointers. WSU has started a season 2-0 for the first time since 2005-06. The Cougars resume their homestand on Wednesday when they host No. 16 Nebraska in an 8 p.m. game that will be shown on the Pac-12 Networks.