WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ROUNDUP : Leslie Leads USC Over Washington, 74-61

Lisa Leslie scored a season-high 31 points and keyed an important second-half run as the No. 15-ranked USC women’s basketball team rebounded from a halftime deficit to beat Washington, 74-61, Sunday at the Lyon Center.

USC, 14-4 overall and 8-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference, opened the second half with a 22-2 run to take a 47-29 lead with 11:40 to play. Leslie scored nine points during the run and reserve Rashida Jeffery added seven.

Leslie also had 12 rebounds and a career-high seven blocked shots. Nicky McCrimmon added 13 points and seven assists.

Laura Moore led Washington (10-7, 5-4) with 21 points, including five three-point baskets. USC shot a season-best 64% and outrebounded Washington, 35-28.

Leslie moved into sixth place on USC all-time scoring list with 1,560 points, passing Cynthia Cooper, who had 1,559.

UCLA 82, Washington State 75--Natalie Williams, the nation’s leading rebounder, had 25 points, 12 rebounds and five steals to lead the Bruins over the Cougars at Pauley Pavilion.

Freshman Michelle Palmisano scored 19 points and put the Bruins (10-8, 5-4) ahead for good, 73-71, when she made two foul shots with 3:59 to play.

UCLA’s Nicole Anderson had 14 points, four assists and four steals.

Lori Lollis had 21 points and nine rebounds for Washington State (6-12, 2-7).