CHARLOTTE AMALIE WEST, U.S. Virgin Islands (Interstat) — Eleonora Villa scored 25 points and Charlotte Abraham added 18 as Washington State snapped a six-game losing streak, holding off a late surge from Miami (Ohio) for a 71-67 victory in a non-conference women’s basketball game Friday at the U.V.I. Sports and Fitness Center.

The Cougars, who improved their record to 1-6, used a dominant fourth-quarter performance to secure their first win of the season. After trailing for much of the second half, Washington State outscored the Redhawks 23-20 in the final period.

Villa, a guard from Lissone, Italy, was the catalyst for the Cougars, playing 37 minutes and adding three assists and a block to her game-high point total. Abraham, a guard from Cambrai, France, provided crucial secondary scoring, netting her 18 points in just 23 minutes on the floor.

Miami (Ohio), which fell to 4-3, was led by forward Ilse de Vries of Groningen, Netherlands, who scored 16 points and recorded a block. Forward Amber Tretter from Ferdinand, Indiana, contributed 13 points, four assists and a block, while guard Amber Scalia of Stillwater, Minnesota, also chipped in 13 points.

The game was a back-and-forth affair characterized by runs from both teams. Washington State established an early lead, ending the first quarter up 15-12. The Redhawks responded in the second quarter, narrowing the gap but still trailing 33-26 at halftime.

Miami (Ohio) came out of the break with renewed energy, winning the third quarter 21-15 to cut the Washington State lead to a single point, 48-47, heading into the final frame. The Redhawks’ surge was fueled by de Vries and Tretter, who consistently found ways to score in the paint.

However, the Cougars reclaimed control in the fourth quarter. Villa and Abraham hit key shots down the stretch, and the team capitalized on Miami (Ohio) turnovers, scoring 23 points off Redhawks miscues compared to 21 for Miami off Washington State turnovers.

Washington State’s ball distribution was key, with guard Malvina Haziri of Vushtrria, Kosovo, dishing out five assists in 13 minutes. Forward Tanja Valancic from Ljubljana, Slovenia, added eight points for the Cougars.

For the Redhawks, guard Macie Taylor of Troy, Ohio, provided a spark off the bench with nine points. The team’s offense was balanced, but they were ultimately unable to overcome Washington State’s late-game execution.

Both teams were even in points in the paint with 32 apiece, highlighting a physical, interior-focused contest.

The game was part of a multi-team event in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Washington State will look to build on the momentum in its next game, facing Marist on Saturday at the same venue. Miami (Ohio) will travel to face in-state rival Cincinnati on Wednesday.