Stanford knocks off Arizona State in Pac-12 women’s tournament

Amber Orrange scored 18 points, Taylor Greenfield’s driving basket with 44 seconds left gave Stanford the lead for good and the No. 19 Cardinal held off No. 9 Arizona State, 59-56, on Saturday night in the Pac-12 Conference women’s tournament semifinals.

Stanford will meet California, a 68-55 winner over Colorado, in today’s final.

Orrange scored 15 points in the first half and was part of Stanford’s pivotal run midway through the second half that turned a four-point lead into a 13-point advantage. Orrange, Bonnie Samuelson and Briana Roberson all knocked down three-pointers as Stanford (23-9) took a 50-37 lead. The Cardinal needed every bit of that advantage as Arizona State (27-5) rallied to take a 56-55 lead with 2:19 left. Greenfield’s basket proved to be difference.