PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State women’s basketball team opened its 2015-16 season with a 61-44 victory over UC Santa Barbara Friday evening at Beasley Coliseum. WSU used a stifling defense to force the Gauchos into 23 turnovers, including 15 steals, and held UCSB to 11-of-43 (.256) from the floor. Cougar freshman Borislava Hristova led all scorers with 15 points, while freshman Maria Kostourkova grabbed eight rebounds to lead the team.
Eleven Cougars scored in the game, including all three true freshmen, Alexys Swedlund (7 points), Maria Kostourkova (7), and Hristova (15), as well as redshirt-freshman Nike McClure (2) in their first-career starts.