WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : USC Seeks Cushion, Visits UCLA

Trying to stave off streaking Stanford, Pacific 10 leader USC will play UCLA tonight at 7 in a key women’s basketball game at Pauley Pavilion.

Coach Cheryl Miller’s Trojans, 20-3 overall and 13-2 in the conference, have three games left and are being hotly pursued by the Cardinal (19-5, 12-3) and Oregon (18-6, 12-3).

The Bruins (15-9, 10-5) are hoping to reach the NCAA tournament, to atone for a 15-point loss at USC on Feb. 4 and to show they aren’t a one-player team.

UCLA’s star, Natalie Williams, went out with a season-ending knee injury in the first half last Saturday at Stanford.

However, the Bruins played on even terms with the Cardinal, which had routed the Trojans, 80-50, two nights earlier. Surprisingly effective without Williams, UCLA lost, 94-82, after closing within eight points in the second half.

Stanford won its eighth straight game Thursday, beating Oregon State, 81-60, at Corvallis. The Cardinal plays at Oregon tonight.

After the blowout at Stanford, Miller in effect predicted a national championship this season for her Trojans, saying: “From this night on, we are not going to lose again and I’m not just talking about the conference.”

USC, which finishes its season next weekend at home against Oregon and Oregon State, will be led tonight by senior Lisa Leslie and freshman Tina Thompson, who are averaging a combined 35 points and 22 rebounds a game.