Pac-10 women’s tournament: UCLA beats USC, 59-53, advances to title game against Stanford

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UCLA is going to the State Farm Pacific 10 women’s tournament title game Sunday.

That’s after the second-seeded Bruins beat sixth-seeded USC 59-53 at the Galen Center on Saturday

It was a tight game late into the second half. After UCLA’s Markel Walker made a jumper with 1 minute, 40 seconds left to give the Bruins a 55-53 lead, USC’s Briana Gilbreath failed to make a layup on the other end, giving the ball back to the Bruins.

Walker then missed a layup attempt with 28 seconds left, but grabbed her own rebound and the Trojans were forced to foul. Doreena Campbell made two free throws, putting UCLA up 57-53. The Bruins then were able to run out the clock.

Walker led UCLA with 15 points. Ashley Corral led USC with 15.

UCLA advances to Sunday’s title game against top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Stanford, which beat fourth-seeded California, 64-44, earlier on Saturday. UCLA and Stanford met in the tournament championship in 2006, and the then-third-seeded Bruins beat the top-seeded Cardinal in overtime, 85-76.

--Baxter Holmes