:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68812473/1301134048.0.jpg)
The No. 10 Arizona Wildcats welcome the Washington State Cougars at Friday at 9 p.m. ET on the Pac-12 Network. The Wildcats have won their last four games, most recently a 79-59 victory over the No. 11 Oregon Ducks.
The Cougars are coming off a 10-point loss to the USC Trojans, but they were able to beat the Wildcats in overtime on Jan. 10.
Senior guard Aari McDonald leads the Wildcats with 18.4 points and 4.7 assists. A high-volume shooter, McDonald is shooting just 39 percent this season and turns the ball over more than three times per contest. Coming off a season-high 25 points against Oregon, junior forward Cate Reese averages 12.3 points and 6.0 rebounds. Occasionally Reese can shoot from long range, and she was 3-of-3 on 3-point shots against Oregon.
BAG SZN @cate_reese pic.twitter.com/ldCf08db7n
— Arizona Women's Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) February 9, 2021
For the Cougars, it is all about the Leger-Walker sisters. Freshman guard Charlisse Leger-Walker leads her team with 18.9 points per game and she has surpassed 20 points nine times this season. Senior Krystal Leger-Walker averages 11.3 points and leads the team with 4.5 assists per contest.
4th, 2:32 | ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!!!! @Char_legerwalks knocks down the and we're all tied up!!!
— WSU Cougar Women's (@WSUCougarWBB) February 7, 2021
71
⚔️ 71
WATCH: https://t.co/kzyOURUi75#GoCougs | #TogetherCougs pic.twitter.com/EdmdkMRdJB
In their last meeting, the Cougars outscored the Wildcats in paint scoring (42-26), points off turnovers (19-13) and bench scoring (19-12). Arizona will need to find a way to offset some of these metrics if they are to avoid another upset at the hands of Washington State.
Here’s what to expect from the matchup and how to watch:
Game Information
Washington State (9-7, 7-7 Pac-12) vs. No. 10 Arizona Wildcats (13-2, 10-2 Pac-12)
When: Friday, Feb. 12, at 9 p.m. ET
Where: McKale Center in Tucson, AZ
How to watch/listen: Pac-12 Network/Radio: Arizona Feed (TuneIn) or Washington State Radio
What to watch: Neither team is especially great at shooting, but if the Cougars are able to keep the game low-scoring, they might be able to score another upset. Center Bella Murekatete scored 25 points in the Cougars’ last game and 14 points in the upset of the Wildcats earlier in the season. Murekatete is the third-best scorer for Washington State and the team will need her to step up to get the win. Arizona faded down the stretch in the last meeting, shooting 1-of-9 in the fourth quarter. They will need to find ways to create easy buckets and generate a strong finish.