COUGARS

We're in the Galen Center for the opening game of the women's Pac-10 basketball tournament. The Washington State band is in attendance. A few administrators and a sprinkling of fans. As the Cougars prepare to face the Arizona Wildcats the one thing that stands out is the paucity of Wildcats. There are only eight players on the UA team – heck, it's hard for them to run shooting drills – but that hasn't stopped the Wildcats from posting a 13-16 overall record, though they were just 6-12 in Pac-10 play. ... The Cougars are 8-21, 3-15 in conference. But they lost their first 10 Pac-10 games, which means they are 3-5 since, including wins over third-place USC (18-11) and fifth-seed ASU (17-12). ... The last three games, WSU coach June Daugherty has changed her starting lineup, going with 6-foot junior Katie Madison and bringing 6-1 Rosie Tarnowski off the bench. ... Arizona's Ify Ibekwe, a 6-2 post, has 16 double-doubles this season and the junior has 38 in her career. One came against WSU (12 points, 11 rebounds) in the recent 73-66 win in Tucson. She averages a Pac-10 best 11.3 rebounds a game. ... The Wildcats also won 67-60 in Pullman early in January. ... WSU freshman post Carly Noyes posted her career high with 15 points in the first meeting between the teams. Sophomore guard April Cook averaged 14 points in the two meetings. ... We'll be back at the end of the game with a quick post.

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