<p><p>Even without star player Charlisse Leger-Walker, Washington State coach Kamie Ethridge believed the Cougars could beat any team in the Pac-12 Conference.</p></p><p><p>Certainly the margin of error had shrunk after the Cougars lost Leger-Walker to a season-ending knee injury during their 85-82 upset victory at UCLA in late January.</p></p><p><p>The Cougars proved their coach’s assessment spot-on when they upset 18th-ranked Colorado 72-63 on the road Saturday.</p></p><p><p>Nobody knows for sure how many wins it will take for WSU to earn a berth to the NCAA Tournament. But if the Cougars need at least one more, it starts with the first game at the Pac-12 Conference Tournament on Wednesday when ninth-seeded WSU (18-13) faces No. 8 California (17-13) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Tip is at 2:30 p.m.</p></p><p><p> Ethridge believes the Cougars have done enough to be in the NCAA Tournament. But the team doesn’t want to leave the decision in the hands of the selection committee.</p></p><p><p>“I’m going to trust the system (and) what they’ve said about making it into the NCAA Tournament,” Ethridge said. “We’re a Top 25 NET, we’re the seventh team in the (Pac-12) in the Top 25 in NET. To me, we’re in given who we’ve played. I would say we’ve proven ourselves with our body of work. Now injuries obviously play a part in seeding. The win over Colorado (showed) that without Charlisse we could win against a Top 25 team. (That) was a big statement game. … I’d be disappointed in the whole system if we didn’t get in regardless of what happens.”</p></p><p><p>Cal won both conference games against the Cougars. WSU fell 73-72 in overtime at Cal and lost 66-59 in Pullman.</p></p><p><p>“We want to play well (Wednesday) and compete better than we have against Cal,” Ethridge said. “We still have a lot to play for. This team is determined.”</p></p><p><p>The WSU/Cal winner meets No. 1 Stanford (26-4), which moved up to second in the AP rankings this week, in the quarterfinals Thursday.</p></p><p><p>The championship game is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.</p></p><p><h3>All-Pac-12 honors</h3></p><p><p>Leger-Walker was named to All-Pac-12 first team on Tuesday as voted by the coaches. It’s the fourth time Leger-Walker has been given the honor.</p></p><p><p>WSU senior Bella Murekatete was named honorable mention, the second time in her career.</p></p><p><p>Eleonora Villa was named to the freshman team.</p></p><p><p>Leger-Walker is the first player in WSU history to earn All-Pac-12 for a fourth time. She recorded two triple-doubles this season and finished her WSU career third with 1,743 points and fourth in assists (389).</p></p><p><p>“I’m just thrilled for Charlisse,” Ethridge said. “The face of our program and everybody had to key on her. … She affected the game in every conceivable way. It just shows the respect that she has across this league.”</p></p>
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