LAS VEGAS, Nev. – A cold first half shooting performance was too much to overcome for the Pacific women's basketball team in an 82-76 defeat against Washington State on Friday at the Orleans Arena, ending the team's season in the second round of the West Coast Conference Tournament.

An 0-for-11 first half from behind the arc put Pacific on the back foot early. Despite the cold start, Pacific (11-19, 6-12 WCC) was able to trim a 19-point halftime deficit all the way down to five with 16 seconds remaining and several times prior threatened a run to seriously challenge Washington State (9-24, 6-12 WCC) but each time the Cougars were able to hit timely shots to stave off the rally.

The trio of senior Sydney Ward and sophomores Daria Nestorov/Winner Bartholomew were instrumental to the comeback effort, scoring 42 of the 58 second half Tigers points. Ward was particularly lethal in the final two quarters, posting 17 points and nine rebounds on near perfect shooting (5-6 FG, 1-1 3pt, 6-7 FT). On the game she finished her collegiate career with a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double.

As part of her day, she eclipsed 200 season rebounds to become the second Tiger this decade to accomplish this feat. For her career she finished fifth in total blocks (96), 20th in career rebounds (535) and 12th in games played (118). She is also one of only five Tigers in program history to achieve multiple 30-block seasons and her 41 blocks as a junior rank tenth in program history for a single season.

Nestorov meanwhile tallied her second career 20-point outing after scoring 12 points in the second half to finish with an even 20 – tying her career high. The nine field goals she made to get to 20 points ties a career best as well. She also contributed three rebounds, three assists and two steals.

As a pair, Ward and Nestorov are the first Tigers to each score 20 points in the same game since Valerie Higgins and Sam Ashby did so in 2020.

Off the bench Winner Bartholomew scored all 13 of her points in the second half and was effective getting to the free-throw line, hitting seven of eight attempts. Defensively she was also able to muster two steals.

The Tigers are set to return ten of the 14 student-athletes currently on the roster for next season.

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