An up and down day for WSU athletics

Good morning, Coug fans. If you followed the bevy of WSU sporting events yesterday, you had some highs and some lows. It was a mixed bag, so let’s sum up what happened in the world of Cougar sports on Friday.

First, the women’s basketball team hosted Colorado for a mid-day match....and it didn’t go well for our Cougs. Charlisse Leger-Walker did her usual thing, pouring in 21 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. But the rest of the roster didn’t step up when it needed to, and the Cougs turned it over 15 times as the Buffaloes won 60-57. WSU shot just 32.8% from the field.

The loss drops WSU to 9-10 overall and 7-10 in Pac-12 play. If you think their tournament hopes are toast, make sure you read what we wrote on Thursday. It sure would have been nice to get the win yesterday, but the situation isn’t hopeless.

After the conclusion of the basketball game, Cougar baseball started its season at UC Davis and trounced the Aggies 11-1. Zane Mills got the start and went six-and-a-third innings, giving up five hits and one run. Kyle Manzardo cranked a three-run home run and had four RBIs. That led to this nugget from Pat Chun:

Impressive.

The Cougar soccer team took the the bubble last night and dominated their neighbors across the border, shutting out the Idaho Vandals 3-0. Mykiaa Minniss, Elyse Bennett and Margie Detrizio got the goals for WSU.

Tennis, however, dropped a match against Washington, 5-2. So, in team sports, WSU was 2-2 on the day. We’ll take it.

Congrats to Luke Falk as he heads north of the border

Falk is now one of six quarterbacks on the Roughriders’ roster. Canadian Football League teams must keep two quarterbacks and a maximum of 20 Americans. Best of luck to Luke.

Links

Scratched: How Tuariki Delamere got banned from the long jump | The Spinoff
At a college track and field meet in 1974, a New Zealand long jumper representing Washington State University did something that had never been done in competition before – a somersault.

'The game just flowed my way.' Noah Williams erupts for career-high 32 points as Washington State trounces Cal, 82-51 | The Spokesman-Review
Three games ago, Noah Williams scored eight points for Washington State before fouling out of a win over UCLA. Two games ago, the Washington State guard went just 2 of 13 from the field, scoring four points in a loss to USC. In his last game, the sophomore let a former AAU teammate, Washington's Marcus Tsohonis, blow by him for the game-winner in a two-point loss to WSU's in-state rival.

Ex-Washington State QB Luke Falk signs to play with Saskatchewan Roughriders | The Spokesman-Review
The next snaps of Luke Falk's professional career will come in the Canadian Football League.

Pac-12 commissioner search: Six names of potential candidates, based on the presidents’ preferences | The Spokesman-Review
The Pac-12 is one month into a search that likely will last into April, if not May.

Ex-Washington State star Guy Williams expresses pride, joy after son Noah's 32-point outburst, 'but it ain't 43' | The Spokesman-Review
It's the most predictable aspect of every game for Noah Williams. The Washington State guard may not be able to anticipate when he'll score 20 points or when he'll go ice cold; when his verbal jabs will warrant a technical foul or when officials will look the other way; when his defense will erase the opponent's best scorer, or when it'll slip. But, without failure, Williams can always expect the call that comes afterward.

Cougars Open 2021 With Impressive 11-1 Win - Washington State University Athletics
Five Cougs recorded multiple hits to back starter Zane Mills.

Leger-Walker Picks Up a Double-Double in a Loss to Colorado - Washington State University Athletics
PULLMAN, Wash. – Freshman Charlisse Leger-Walker collected her second double-double of the season on Friday, Feb. 19, against Colorado, as the first-year guard scored

Charisma Taylor Dominates Matador Qualifier - Washington State University Athletics
The junior posted a WSU all-time best along with two meet records Saturday afternoon.

Cougars Fall at Washington, 5-2 - Washington State University Athletics
Savanna Ly-Nguyen improves to 5-0 in singles play this season.

Pac-12 Announces Date Changes to Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament - Washington State University Athletics
SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference has announced a schedule adjustment for the 2021 Pac-12 Women's Basketball Tournament, presented by New York Life, which will