WSU women fall to UCLA in OT despite Murekatete's double-double

From wire and news services

LOS ANGELES — Despite a heads-up play at the end of regulation, and a double-double from Bella Murekatete, the Washington State women's basketball team fell 68-66 in overtime to No. 8 UCLA on Sunday.

Murekatete, a sophomore center from Genesis Prep Academy in Post Falls, and a native of Butare Huye, Rwanda, totaled 14 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for her second collegiate double-double.

The Cougars, who trailed by 13 points after three quarters, have played three consecutive overtime games, losing two of them, both in Los Angeles. After beating No. 7 Arizona at home last Sunday, WSU lost at USC on Friday.

"It's never fun to come this close and lose," Washington State coach Kamie Ethridge said. "We've had a lot of these ... I continue to be amazed at this team's resiliency and fight and competitiveness, and to be able to defend at such a high level."

The Cougars trailed 53-50 with 2 seconds left in regulation when star Charlisse Leger-Walker was fouled. She made the first free throw, missed the second on purpose and her sister, Krystal Leger-Walker, got the rebound and hit a layup to send the game into OT.

UCLA coach Cori Close liked the odds of not giving up a 3-pointer to tie the game and boxing out for the offensive rebound on a missed free throw.

It didn't work out, but Charisma Osborne took over in overtime, scoring 11 of her 28 points in the extra session.

"Obviously, she saved the day for us in overtime," Close said.

UCLA (8-2, 6-2 Pac-12) won its third in a row. The Bruins improved to 33-0 overall at home against Washington State.

Charlisse Leger-Walker led the Cougars (7-2, 5-2) with 18 points.

Washington State took its first lead on Charlisse Leger-Walker's layup with 1:21 left in regulation. She was fouled on the play and missed the free throw.

Osborne made a 3-pointer from the top of the arc on the next possession to put UCLA up 52-50 with 1:03 left. With 2.3 seconds left, Michaela Onyenwere made one of two free throws.

Camryn Brown, who comes off the bench for the Bruins, made a nice play as she stole the ball and went coast-to-coast, dribbling past three defenders and scoring on a layup to give UCLA a 22-13 lead in the second quarter. The Bruins went on a 8-1 run to go into halftime with a 32-21 lead.

Murekatete was dominant in the first quarter for the Cougars with three consecutive baskets to pull Washington State within 11-6. She picked up her second foul early in the second quarter and went to the bench after that, negating the Cougars' advantage inside.

Washington State plays Friday at No. 10 Oregon, making it the third time in the last four games the Cougars have faced a top 10 opponent. Oregon defeated WSU 69-65 in December in Pullman.