USC Women Closing In on NCAA Bid

The USC women’s basketball team is in control of its own destiny as the regular season draws to a close. With a Pacific 10 Conference victory tonight over Washington, it’s likely the Trojans would earn a berth in the NCAA tournament.

Actually, even if the unranked Trojans lose to the ninth-ranked Huskies, they will probably still get into the tournament with victories in their final two games against Washington State and UCLA.

“We are peaking at the right time, and I am keeping my fingers crossed,” USC Coach Marianne Stanley said. USC (15-10 overall, 9-6 in the Pac-10) defeated Oregon and Oregon State last weekend to move into third place.

But the race is close for what will probably be the conference’s third and final entry into the tournament. No. 10-ranked Stanford and Washington are battling for first place in the conference.

The Trojans will play host to Washington (20-3, 12-2) tonight at 7:30 at the Lyon Center, Washington State (16-8, 8-6) Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Lyon Center and UCLA (13-12, 8-7) next Friday.

UCLA plays Washington State tonight at 7:30 at Pauley Pavilion and Washington Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Wooden Center.