HCA: Charlisse Leger-Walker wins Pac-12 Freshman of the Week... again.

The Pac-12 announced Monday afternoon that Charlisse Leger-Walker has once again won the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Charlisse Leger-Walker award. She won the award a day after sinking both the shot to tie the game and the game winner in overtime against then 7th ranked Arizona. This is her fourth time receiving the award in the past five weeks.

Leger-Walker finished her week with 17 points, three steals, five assists, and three rebounds in the 71-69 win. With :05 remaining in regulation and the Cougs trailing by two, Cate Reese for the Wildcats went to the line where she would miss her free throw opening the door for the Cougs to even the score. With the game on the line Kamie Ethridge put all the trust in her True Freshman phenom. Assisted by her sister Krystal Leger-Walker, Charlisse went up and under in the paint to drop in a reverse layup with :03 on the clock.

The Cougs came out hot in overtime and led by five with a minute and a half remaining and held off Arizona as they went on a 7-2 run and tied the game up at 69 after Aari Macdonald hit two free throws with 10 seconds left. Ethridge would call a timeout and Charlisse would get the ball at half court. She would get isolated at with three players to her right and one to her left. She drove left before Arizona collapsed on her in the key. She split the double team and from underneath the basket lofted the shot up with her left hand and after a few bounces on the rim and as the buzzer sounded off the ball dropped.

The win over the Wildcats helped bump the Cougars to their first ranking in school history when the AP announced Monday that they came in at #25. It was also the Cougars first win over a top-10 program since January of 2017. They will hit the hardwood again on Friday when they head to USC at 4:30 pm and then again on Sunday when they stay in California and take on #8 UCLA at 11:00 am.

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Basketball:

Leger-Walker Earns School Record Fourth Pac-12 Freshman of the Week Award

The Pac-12 Conference weekly accolades continue to roll in for Washington State women’s basketball player Charlisse Leger-Walker, as the conference announced Monday, Jan. 11, that she has been named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the third-straight week. It is also the fourth time this season Leger-Walker has earned the honor, which is sets a program record.

Women’s Basketball Ranked in AP Poll for the First Time in Program History

The Washington State women’s basketball team made history Monday, Jan. 11, as the Cougars were placed inside the top 25 of this week’s Associated Press poll for the first time in program history, checking in at No. 25

No. 25 Washington State Cougars earn 1st ranking in women’s basketball AP Top 25

Kamie Ethridge was surprised to hear that Washington State had never been ranked before. Now the Cougars coach can add that to the team’s list of accomplishments: They entered The Associated Press women’s college basketball poll at No. 25 on Monday.