Murekatete, Motuga lead WSU’s upset of No. 19 Arizona ladies

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Bella Murekatete scored 18 factors, Ula Motuga added 16, and the 2 hit a number of key buckets down the stretch, lifting Washington State to a 70-59 victory over No. 19 Arizona on Sunday.

Motuga and Murekatete hit two buckets every in a 1 1/2-minute stretch late within the fourth quarter, giving the Cougars a 66-57 lead with 1:07 to go. The Wildcats misfired on their subsequent two possessions and a free throw by Murekatete gave Washington State a 10-point lead with 27 seconds left.

Washington State led 48-46 heading to the fourth quarter and constructed a 58-50 lead earlier than Madison Conner hit a 3-pointer to get the Wildcats inside 5 factors. That was as shut as Arizona would get earlier than Murekatete and Motuga took over down the stretch.

Tara Wallack had 12 factors and 12 rebounds for Washington State (15-6, 5-5 Pac-12). Astera Tuhina scored 10 factors and Murkatete had 9 rebounds. Charlisse Leger-Walker had 10 rebounds, seven assists and 5 factors though she was 0 for 13 from the sphere.

Esmery Martinez led Arizona with 14 factors. Conner added 13 factors and Kailyn Gilbert scored 11. The Wildcats (16-5, 6-4) shot solely 30.8% in dropping for the third time in 5 video games.

After Arizona acquired the sport’s first bucket, the Cougars ran off 10 straight factors to guide 10-2 with 5:54 remaining within the first quarter. Arizona bounced again with Martinez scoring 13 factors in a 20-5 run that prolonged effectively into the second quarter, giving the Wildcats a 22-15 lead with 6:30 left within the half. The Cougars then took their flip, a 14-3 run giving them a 29-25 lead shortly earlier than halftime. Washington State led 29-27 on the break.

The Cougars continued their surge into the third quarter, scoring the primary 9 factors to construct a 41-29 lead with 5:55 left within the quarter. Arizona then took its flip with a giant scoring run as Conner scored eight factors in a game-tying 15-3 burst.

The Cougars, who beat Arizona State 61-57 on Friday, swept their Arizona highway journey for the primary time for the reason that 2012-2013 season. The Cougars are 8-1 in true highway video games this season.

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