USC women defeat Washington State, 77-73, in first round of Pac-12 basketball tournament

SEATTLE — 

Courtney Jaco scored 19 points and Temi Fagbenie added 18 as eighth-seeded USC rallied through a tense finish Thursday to defeat No. 9 Washington State, 77-73, in the first round of the Pac-12 Conference women’s basketball tournament at Key Arena.

The win advances the Trojans (19-12) to a quarterfinal meeting Friday with top-seeded Oregon State.

A Jaco three-pointer lifted the Trojans into a 68-68 tie with 2:36 left to play. Kristen Simon scored to make it 70-68 with 1:52 left.

Louise Brown forced a 70-70 tie for the Cougars (14-16), but that only lasted for 20 seconds until Sadie Edwards put USC up for good at 72-70.

In the final minute, Washington State missed three of four free throws. Freshman Borislava Hristova made one free throw to make it 72-71, but Nike McClure, after swiping the ball from Simon and getting fouled, missed two.

Simon and Fagbenie sealed it at the line for USC.

Hristova led Washington State with 24 points.

Arizona 74, Oregon 68: LaBrittney Jones made 10 of 14 shots and scored 26 points — 16 in the second half — and the 11th-seeded Wildcats (13-18) upset the sixth-seeded Ducks (20-10). It was the second straight win for Arizona after an 11-game losing streak, and its first since it was announced Coach Niya Butts would not be returning next season. The Wildcats play third-seeded and 12th-ranked UCLA on Friday.

Oregon lost its third straight since losing leading scorer and rebounder Jillian Alleyne to a knee injury. Lexi Peterson had 23 points and Maite Cazorla added 19 for the Ducks.

California 66, Utah 63 (OT): Kristine Anigwe scored 18 points with 14 rebounds before fouling out, Mikayla Cowling hit some big shots late in regulation and overtime, and the Bears (14-16) defeated the Utes (16-14). Cal will play second-seeded and No. 10-ranked Arizona State on Friday. Anigwe, the Pac-12 freshman of the year, fouled out with 1:51 to go in regulation. Cowling finished with 12 points and four assists.

Utah’s Paige Crozon hit a three-pointer with 50 seconds left in overtime to tie it at 63. Cowling hit a jumper on the next possession and after a Utah turnover, MaAne Mosely made one of two free throws to make it a three-point game. Crozon missed a three-point attempt with two seconds left.

Washington 67, Colorado 51: Kelsey Plum scored 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and Talia Walton added 16 points to help the fifth-seeded Washington women beat No. 12 seed Colorado 67-51 in the first round of the Pacific-12 Conference tournament. The Huskies will face fourth-seeded and 11th-ranked Stanford (24-6) in the quarterfinals Friday.Alexus Atchley scored 10 and Chantel Osahor grabbed 18 rebounds for Washington (21-9), which has won three in a row. Washington shot 47 percent from the field, while limiting Colorado (7-23) to 31 percent shooting (20-of-65).