MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — Eleonora Villa scored 16 points and Washington State overcame 24 turnovers to edge Saint Mary’s 68-64 in overtime Thursday night in a nonconference women’s basketball game. The Cougars, who led by six after the first quarter, saw the Gaels surge ahead with a 20-point second period. The teams were tied at 57 after regulation. Washington State secured the win at the free-throw line in the extra period, scoring 11 points. Abigail Shoff led Saint Mary’s with 18 points. Washington State improved to 4-16, while Saint Mary’s fell to 11-8.

MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — In a season defined by narrow defeats, the Washington State women’s basketball team finally authored a different ending Thursday night. The Cougars, who entered the contest with a 3-16 record and had suffered several agonizingly close losses, outlasted Saint Mary’s 68-64 in overtime at McKeon Pavilion, snapping a two-game skid and securing a rare road victory. The game, a nonconference affair organized by the West Coast, was a gritty, defensive struggle marked by turnovers and missed opportunities for both sides. Washington State improved to 4-16, while Saint Mary’s fell to 11-8. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded in the final chaotic seconds of regulation. Trailing 57-55, Washington State’s Charlotte Abraham was fouled with 4.4 seconds remaining. The freshman from Cambrai, France, calmly sank both free throws to tie the game and force overtime, capping a Cougar comeback from a seven-point deficit earlier in the fourth quarter. In the extra period, Washington State never trailed. The Cougars scored the first four points, keyed by an Alex Covill hook shot, and then relied on clutch free-throw shooting to seal the win. Eleonora Villa, who played a game-high 42 minutes, hit critical free throws in the final minute, and Mackenzie Chatfield added two more from the line to help build an insurmountable lead. Saint Mary’s had a chance to tie in the final seconds of overtime, but a steal by Washington State’s Charlotte Abraham and subsequent free throws by Villa extinguished the Gaels’ hopes. The contest was a tale of two halves and persistent Cougar resilience. Washington State raced to an early lead, ending the first quarter up 16-10 behind efficient play from Villa and Covill. However, Saint Mary’s dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Cougars 20-14 behind the sharp shooting of Abigail Shoff, to take a 30-26 lead into halftime. Shoff, a sophomore from Redding, California, led all scorers with 18 points, spearheading the Gael offense. Jada Hunter of Vallejo, California, added 15 points for Saint Mary’s. The Gaels extended their lead to as many as nine points in the third quarter, but Washington State chipped away, entering the fourth quarter down 47-44. The Cougar defense tightened significantly in the final frame and overtime, holding Saint Mary’s to just 17 points over the final 15 minutes. Washington State’s victory was forged despite a glaring disparity in ball security. The Cougars committed 24 turnovers, leading to 11 Saint Mary’s steals. The Gaels, by contrast, had only 12 turnovers. Washington State offset this with a significant advantage at the free-throw line, making 18 of 28 attempts compared to Saint Mary’s 8 of 13, and by winning the battle on the offensive glass, 10-6. Villa, a guard from Lissone, Italy, led Washington State with 16 points and six assists, orchestrating the offense throughout her marathon stint. Keandra Koorits of Tallin, Estonia, provided a vital spark off the bench with 15 points, including three 3-pointers. Covill, from Missoula, Montana, anchored the defense with four blocks and added nine points. For Saint Mary’s, Edie Clarke of Melbourne, Australia, filled the stat sheet with nine points, four assists and two blocks, while Mauriana Hashemian-Orr of Portland, Oregon, dished out six assists. The game was a defensive slog, with both teams struggling offensively. Washington State shot 42.3% from the field but only 30% from 3-point range. Saint Mary’s was held to 38.2% shooting and 26.7% from beyond the arc. The Cougars’ offensive rating of 85.8 points per 100 possessions barely edged out the Gaels’ 79.8, underscoring the low-scoring, grinding nature of the matchup. A sparse crowd of 287 at McKeon Pavilion watched as Washington State secured just its second win since early December, providing a moment of triumph in a challenging season. The Gaels, who were projected as solid favorites by advanced metrics, saw a three-game home winning streak come to an end. Washington State will look to build on the win when it hosts San Francisco on Saturday. Saint Mary’s will also be at home Saturday, facing Santa Clara.

MORAGA, Calif. (Interstat) — The Saint Mary’s Gaels, riding a two-game win streak, will look to continue their momentum against the struggling Washington State Cougars in a nonconference women’s basketball game Thursday at McKeon Pavilion. The Gaels (11-7) return home after road victories at San Diego and Pacific last week. Saint Mary’s has found success with balanced scoring and defense, holding its last two opponents under 55 points. Emily Foy has been a consistent contributor, averaging 9.8 points over her last six games, including a 12-point effort in the win at Pacific. Washington State (3-16) seeks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 98-92 home loss to Santa Clara on Jan. 10. Despite the defeat, the Cougars showed offensive life, with Charlotte Abraham posting a double-double of 20 points and 11 rebounds. Abraham has been a bright spot, averaging 12.1 points and 6.4 rebounds over her last seven contests. Eleonora Villa leads the team after a 29-point performance against Santa Clara. The Cougars’ season has been defined by close losses, with five defeats by six points or fewer. Their defense, allowing an average of 72.3 points per game, will be tested by a methodical Saint Mary’s squad. This matchup, organized under the West Coast banner, is a final tune-up before both teams resume their respective conference schedules. Saint Mary’s holds a distinct advantage in record and is 7-2 at home this season, while Washington State is 1-9 in true road games. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. PST. Saint Mary’s will host Santa Clara on Saturday, while Washington State travels to face San Francisco.