PAC-12 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT: Cougars bow out in opener

From wire and news services

There will be no repeat women's tournament champion in the Pac-12 Conference's swansong after defending champion Washington State was knocked out at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in an opening round game.

Leilani McIntosh scored 19 points and eighth-seeded California beat ninth-seeded Washington State for the third time this season, posting a 65-44 victory on Wednesday, knocking the Cougars — who won the program's first conference title in 2023 — from the tournament.

Ioanna Krimili added 14 points and Ugonne Onyiah had 11 with nine rebounds for the Golden Bears (18-13). Marta Suarez grabbed 10 rebounds as Cal had a 48-35 rebounding advantage with 20 on the offensive end leading to a 26-8 difference in second-chance points.

Cal plays top-seeded and second-ranked Stanford in the quarterfinals today.

Eleonora Villa scored 17 points for the Cougars (18-14), who went 3-8 after Charlisse Leger-Walker, the 2023 tourney MVP, was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Bella Murekatete, a senior from Genesis Prep, had eight points, seven rebounds, two assists and one block for Washington State, which awaits its NCAA Tournament fate next weekend.

Murekatete extended her program record to 959 career rebounds and appeared in her 149th game, also a program record.

It was the worst offensive game for Washington State, which shot a season-worst 30.5% (18 of 59) in its lowest-scoring game of the season. WSU lost 73-72 in overtime at Cal and 66-59 at home.

The Golden Bears limited Washington State to 6-of-30 shooting (20%) in the first half to open a 30-14 lead. Krimili had seven points as Cal eased to a 16-10 lead after one quarter and then held the Cougars to 2-of-14 shooting in the second. WSU missed its last eight shots and Cal scored the last eight points.

The Bears shot 39% (13 of 33) in the first half, and the teams combined to go 1 of 16 from long range.

Cal was 7 of 17 behind the arc in the second half and led by as many as 23 in the third. Beyonce Bea closed the third quarter with a three-point play and Washington State had a 9-2 run to open the fourth quarter to get within 52-39 with six minutes to play but the Cougars shot 1 of 8 from there.

    WASHINGTON STATE ATHLETICS Bella Murekatete, the former Genesis Prep star, departs Wednesday's game against California in the Pac-12 Conference Tournament in Las Vegas.