Women’s college basketball: Washington State falls in Kamie Ethridge’s coaching debut

Hailey Bassett-Meachem scored 23 points and visiting Utah State made a late surge to beat Washington State 72-61 in nonconference play in the season opener for both teams Tuesday, spoiling Kamie Ethridge’s coaching debut for WSU.

The Cougars led by six early in the fourth quarter, but a 3-pointer by Olivia West put the Aggies up by two with just more than 7 minutes to go. West’s layup with 1:27 left made it a five-point lead. West finished with 16 points.

Borislava Hristova, the Cougs’ 2018 All-Pac-12 honoree from a season ago, enters the year on the Cheryl Miller Watch List as one of the top-20 small forwards in all of college basketball. She led the Cougars with 27 points and seven rebounds.

WSU’s Ula Motuga added 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting.

The schools hadn’t faced each other since 1980.

Idaho 88, Cal State Northridge 73: Mikayla Ferenz scored 24 points, Taylor Pierce added 23 and and the Vandals handled the visiting Matadors in another opener.

Ferenz hit 6 of 14 from beyond the arc and added seven rebounds and seven assists. Natalie Klinker chipped in 16 points.

Channon Fluker led CSUN with 16 points and 17 rebounds.