LAS VEGAS – History awaits the Washington State women’s basketball team this Sunday, March 5, as for the first time in program history the Cougars are set to play in the Pac-12 championship game. The Cougs will take on No. 19/16-ranked UCLA for a chance to win the 2023 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament title. Tip-off against the Bruins is set for 2 p.m. PT and will air live on ESPN2.
WASHINGTON STATE (22-10, 9-9 Pac-12) vs. No. 19/16 UCLA (25-8, 11-7 Pac-12) | Sunday, March 5, 2023 | 2:00 p.m. PT | Michelob ULTRA Arena
Live Stats | Click Here
Watch | ESPN 2 (Eric Frede and Christy Thomaskutty)
Listen | Click Here (Steve Grubbs)
Game Notes | To Come
STARTING FIVE
>> The Cougars, the No. 7 seed at the 2023 Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament, advanced to the Pac-12 championship game after collecting a 61-49 win over No. 3 seed Colorado in Friday’s semifinal round. It was the Cougs’ third win in three days in Las Vegas, as Washington State opened the tournament with a 61-49 win over No. 10-seed California in the first round, then upset No. 2-seeded Utah 66-58 in the Pac-12 Quarterfinals.
>> Washington State is the first No. 7 seed to advance to the Pac-12 championship game. The previous lowest seed to make the championship round at the Pac-12 Women’s Basketball Tournament was the No. 6 seed, which happened in 2009 (USC) and 2022 (Utah).
>> WSU will take on its third-straight ranked team over a span of four days when they challenge No. 19/16-ranked UCLA. The Cougars are 5-6 against top-25 teams this season. The Cougs have won back-to-back games against ranked foes for the first time in program history heading into the Pac-12 championship game, knocking off No 3/4-ranked Utah in the quarterfinals and No. 20/21 Colorado in the semifinals. The five wins against ranked opponents for the Cougars this season establishes a new program record for most wins against top-25 teams in a season.
>> The Cougars and Bruins will meet for just the second time at the Pac-12 Tournament. The two previously met in the first round during the 2007 Pac-12 Tournament in San Jose, California, where UCLA won 72-58.
>> Washington State and UCLA will meet for the third time this season. The two split a pair of games during the regular season, with the road team winning each game. The Cougars defeated the Bruins last Thursday, Feb. 23, in Pauley…
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