Oregon, UCLA, WSU advance in Pac-12 tourney
LAS VEGAS >> The Oregon women’s basketball team gave its NCAA Tournament hopes a much-needed boost on Wednesday.
The ninth-seeded Ducks survived in the final seconds to knock off eighthseeded Washington 52-50 in the first round of the Pac12 Tournament at Michelob Ultra Arena.
Washington, clinging to slim NCAA Tournament hopes, missed a jumper at the buzzer. Oregon (17-13) won its third straight game and will face top-seeded Stanford in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“We’ll control what we control and that’s our effort and execution out on the basketball court,” said Oregon coach Kelly Graves, whose team went through a 1-9 stretch before its current three-game win streak. “Obviously if we can be fortunate enough to get another one at least in this tournament then I would say our chances look pretty good. … I’ll leave that to the (selection) committee. We’re just going to worry about trying to win tomorrow.”
Down seven in the fourth quarter Wednesday, Oregon turned to senior Endyia Rogers, who scored 10 of her game-high 28 points in the final frame, hitting five of her six shots. Rogers also had 11 rebounds.
No. 5 UCLA 81, No. 12 Arizona State 70 (OT)
After getting a scare in regulation, UCLA avoided the upset by dominating down the stretch in overtime. A 3-pointer by Emily Bessoir with 1:33 to play opened up a six-point lead and the Bruins went 5-for-6 at the free throw line in the final minute.
Charisma Osborne scored eight of her 16 points in overtime, while Bessoir (team-high 17 points) drained two 3-pointers in the extra session to lead the Bruins.
Tyi Skinner had a gamehigh 26 points, while Jaddan Simmons added 17 points and 10 rebounds for ASU, which rallied from a 14-point halftime deficit.
No. 7 Wash. St. 61, No. 10 California 49
A dominant second half carried the Cougars into the quarterfinals.
Trailing by six at halftime and by nine early in the third, Washington State got its offense rolling and pulled away in the fourth. The Cougars hits 16-of-27 shots (59.3%) following intermission after making just 8-of-31 (25.8%) in the first half.
Cal, on the other hand, made just 32% (8-of-25) of its shots in the second half after a 42.6% (12-of-26) first half.
Charlisse Leger-walker had 23 points and six rebounds for the Cougars, who also got a double-double from Bella Murekatete (13 points, 12 rebounds). Jayda Curry led Cal with 16 points.