“I liked our response. I think it’s enough to ask our players to decide who they will be,” Cougars coach Kamie Ethridge said. “As a coach you always want to know what you get from a player when you put them in the game, or if they start the game, and we still have roller coaster performance and inconsistencies with what we get from people. That’s growth, and the players have to adapt and be a little more aware of what they have to bring to us in order for us to be successful. “

For the first time in three games, second-year guard Charlisse Leger-Walker was able to go on the attack. She had 23 points, including 19 in the second half, and five rebounds to go with three interceptions to punctuate Washington State (8-1), which has now won four in a row since a November 27 loss to the State. of North Carolina in the Baha Mar Pink Flamingo Championship in Nassau, Bahamas. Junior center Bella Murekatete added 15 points, eight rebounds and three steals, and senior guard Krystal Leger-Walker had 10 points, four rebounds and six assists.

“I think (Charlisse Leger-Walker and Murekatete) are key players for us,” said Ethridge. “I think Krystal’s energy defensively was key. These are three players that I might be asking specific questions about who they wanted to be possession by possession. We’re too inconsistent. Krystal was a bit less. energetic in the first half, Charlisse was a bit casual, Belle is still learning how to start games well. The challenge was they had to decide which player they were going to be in the second half. I thought that ‘ they were pretty impressive in the first half. Second half. “

Elodie Lalotte finished with 16 points and eight rebounds for the Broncos (3-6). Anna Ostlie had 12 points.

Boise State got off to a good offensive start, but eventually ran out of steam. The Broncos, who shot 23 of 45 (51.1%) from the field for the game, made 11 of 15 (73.3%) shots in the first quarter, including their two 3-point attempts, to take a lead 24-16. after the first.

But the Cougars fought back. Trailing 28-19 at just 1:10 of the second quarter, Washington State used a 10-0 streak in 5:22, supplemented by the elimination of senior forward Ula Motuga on a turnover, to take a 29-28 lead with 3:28 left before half-time.

However, the Broncos scored the last 10 points of the quarter, including two 3s from Rachel Bowers, holding a 38-29 lead in intermission.

The Cougars gradually narrowed the deficit in the third, with a Murekatete layup giving them a 45-44 lead at 2:45. The 6-foot-3 star then put Washington State in the lead on a traditional three-point game after a Boise State field goal on the previous possession, and junior guard Johanna Teder with 36 seconds left to play. gave the Cougars a 51-47 lead. the fourth.

Charlisse Leger-Walker had a 3 and a layup in the first 3:45 of the fourth as the Broncos cooled off, pushing Washington State’s advantage to 56-47. Boise State took it to 58-55 with 1:55 to go, but Charlisse Leger-Walker forced a turnaround and converted it to a quick layup at the other end with 29 seconds left to make it a game. at five points. The Cougars finished by forcing the 19th turnover of the game just 10 seconds later.

“I knew deep down that (the ball) was probably going (Ostlie), so I said to (young goalie Johanna Teder) ‘Whatever you do, go after her’ and I saw that she was ‘was being retrieved.on a screen down, and so, I just knew the ball was going in there and I just instinctively made this choice that, if I wasn’t going to get this theft, it would go to someone. another one, and I’d rather someone else shot it instead of Ostlie. Being able to get it and finish it helped our team a lot. It took the pressure off a bit and to put it back on them. “

Washington State will next play at 11 a.m. on Saturday at No.16 BYU.

Lalotte 8-12 0-0 16, Ostlie 4-7 0-0 12, Naro 3-7 0-0 6, Leonidas 2-7 1-2 5, Muse 2-6 1-2 5, Bowers 3-3 0 -0 6, shell 1-2 3-4 5, Burgess 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-45 5-8 55.

C. Leger-Walker 8-21 4-4 23, Murekatete 4-8 7-7 15, K. Leger-Walker 4-12 1-1 10, Motuga 3-5 0-0 6, Teder 2-11 0- 0 6, Nankervis 1-2 0-0 2, Wallack 0-2 0-0 0, Clarke 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-62 12-12 62.

Boise State 24 14 9 8—55

Washington State 16 13 22 11—62

3 Point Goals – Boise State 4-8 (Ostlie 4-6, Naro 0-1, Leonidas 0-1), Washington State 6-24 (C. Leger Walker 3-10, Teder 2-8, K. Leger- Walker 1-5, Motuga 0-1). Rebounds – Boise State 29 (Lalotte 8), Washington State 33 (Murekatete 8). Assists – Boise State 15 (Leonidas 8), Washington State 13 (K. Leger-Walker 6). Total fouls – Boise State 16, Washington State 13. A – 715.