Women’s Basketball : USC Clinches Pac-10 Title

Forward Cherie Nelson scored 23 points and center Monica Lamb had 21 points and 15 rebounds Saturday night as USC’s women’s basketball team clinched the Pacific 10 title with an 89-55 victory over Washington State at the USC Campus Gym.

The Trojans finished the regular season at 21-7 overall and 15-3 in the conference. Washington State wound up 10-18 and 2-16.

USC earned an automatic berth in the NCAA tournament which starts next Wednesday. USC’s first round opponent and the site of the game have yet to be announced.

Washington 82, UCLA 69--Yvette Cole scored 17 points for the Huskies who led only 36-35 at halftime but broke away with a 22-6 run after intermission at Pauley Pavilion.

Lisa Oriard added 14 points for Washington (22-6, 14-4). Jaime Brown and Michele Wooton each had 14 points for UCLA (18-10, 11-7).