WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Last-Second Shot Beats USC

Necole Tunsil of Iowa wasn’t sure if she got her last-second three-point shot up in time and replays showed that she didn’t, but it counted anyway as the No. 2 Hawkeyes escaped with a 50-49 victory over USC Thursday night in the championship game of the USC Christmas tournament at the Lyon Center.

Tunsil’s shot came after a missed free throw by USC’s Nicky McCrimmon with five seconds remaining. Tunsil dribbled down the sideline and launched a desperation bank shot over USC’s Lisa Leslie at the buzzer.

Official Tom Dubas disallowed the shot but was overruled by official Larry Shepard, who said that Tunsil jumped from behind the three-point line and released the ball before the buzzer.

USC Coach Cheryl Miller was upset that the officials did not check replays as they had at halftime when they took away a basket by USC’s Juleah Woods that left the Trojans’ lead at 21-17.

According to Carter Rankin, Pacific 10 Conference supervisor of officials, the first-half shot was reviewed because it was an error by the timekeeper, but the shot at end of the game was a judgment call.

Tina Thompson led USC (6-1) in scoring with 16 points and Leslie added 12. Iowa is 7-0.

In the consolation game, Kina Brown scored 23 points to lead Western Michigan (6-2) to an 89-79 victory over Houston (5-5).