The stunning sequence of performances by Washington State University Cougars and the guard duo of Krystal and Charlisse Leger-Walker continues to make headlines.
Last week we reported Charlisse had scored the game-winner in the overtime win against Arizona that had carried WSU to #25 ranking in the country.
That has been followed by two more overtime games with the Leger-Walker’s amassing 83 points in the process. Unfortunately both games resulted in narrow defeats with an 81-77 loss at USC and a 66-68 defeat at #8 ranked UCLA.
Against USC, Krystal (23) and Charlisse (29) combined for a remarkable 52 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists. The numbers against UCLA were not quite so eye watering but still amounted to 31 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists.
Whilst Charlisse has understandably been garnering most the headlines, after all she leads the Pac-12 in scoring (19.7ppg) and steals (3.0spg), Krystal has been in outstanding form herself.
The senior guard is averaging 12.4 points per game and is 4th on both the Pac-12 three-point shooting list (making 44.7% from deep) and the assists board (4.0 per game).
Things won’t get any easier for WSU (5-3) over the coming days with trips to #10 ranked Oregon and the #1 ranked Stanford.
Talking of Stanford, Charlotte Whittaker and Colorado Buffaloes produced the upset of the week beating the top dogs 77-72 in overtime. Whittaker played 16 minutes off the bench contributing a 2 points, 2 rebounds and a pair of assists. It was the Buffaloes first ever win against Stanford in Pac-12 play.
A fine all-round performance from Kendell Heremaia helped propel Fordham to a 72-63 win at St Louis. The senior finished with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists as Fordham moved to 4-2 in the Atlantic 10. Those points moved Heremaia to 99 for the season at 11.0ppg.
A relieved Cal State Fullerton gained their first win of the season beating Concordia University 69-51. Amiee Book, Fullerton’s leading scorer this season, was at her stats stuffing best accumulating 14 points (5/12FG, 2/3 3PG), 2 assists, 3 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks.
Akienne-Tera Reid accumulated a tidy 11 points, 4 rebounds, a pair of assists and a brace of steals as Virginia Commonwealth moved to 4-0 in the Atlantic-10 Conference with a dominant 60-41 win against George Mason.
That was followed by a 55-49 loss to Massachusetts with Reed compiling 9 points, 6 boards and 4 assists.
Portland had a win at San Francisco and a loss at Santa Clara with Emme Shearer recording 6 points plus 3 steals in both games – Portland 4-2 in West Coast Conference play.
Eva Langton played a starring role as Texas A&M International stretched their NCAA Division II unbeaten run to seven games with a 69-59 win at St Edwards. The Taranaki guard recorded her first double-double in Texas A&M colours with 11 rebounds and 20 points (7/14Fg, 5/6FT).
In a Junior College pre-season game Williston State College, featuring a trio of Kiwis, lost 74-53 to Dawson College.
All three New Zealander’s made scoring contributions for Williston – Jazz Kailahi-Fulu (12 points), Keeley Tini (5 points and 6 rebounds) and Kararaina Pene (3 points).
LACEY LOWDOWN 