USC fends off Washington State

Minyon Moore scored 16 points and Aliyah Mazyck scored 14 to lead seventhseeded USC to a 47-44 win over Washington State on Thursday night in the first round of the Pac-12 women’s tournament in Seattle.

The Trojans advance to play No. 2 seed Stanford on Friday. Borislava Hristova started the fourth quarter with a three-point play and a layup to put the Cougars up 36-35 with 8:55 left. Sadie Edwards put USC up for good with a pair of free throws and Kisten Simon followed with a layup for 39-36 margin. Moore’s jumper with 6:05 left made it 41-36 and neither team scored for two minutes. Nike McClure hit a shot to bring Washington State within 41-38, Moore responded with a three and McClure followed that with a threepoint play.

Sadie Edwards’ free throw made it 45-41, and McClure countered with another three-point play with 46 seconds to go.

On the next Trojans (1910) possession, Kirsten Simon and Sadie Edwards missed attempts but USC corralled offensive rebounds off both and forced the Cougars to foul. Moore ended the game with a layup and the Cougars never got off another shot.

Simon grabbed 12 rebounds and Jordan Adams grabbed 10.

McClure led 10th-seeded Washington State (10-19) with 12 points.

Colorado 66, Utah 56: Kennedy Leonard had 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five steals as Colorado advanced.

California 71, Washington 68: Cal overcame a fourth-quarter deficit to hold off Washington’s upset bid. Asha Thomas scored 22 points for the Bears.

Arizona State 76, Arizona 47: The sixth-seeded Sun Devils routed their conference rivals. Arizona State was led by Kianna Ibis, who had 13 points and two rebounds, and Sophia Elenga, who had 11 points and two rebounds.