COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA TOURNAMENTS : Trojans Survive a Scare : Women: Atwater, Leslie make key shots to help USC defeat George Washington, 76-72, after blowing 13-point lead.

Lisa Leslie, in her final home game, powered the USC women’s basketball team to a 76-72 NCAA tournament victory over George Washington Saturday night at the Sports Arena.

The Trojans thus survived the second round of the tournament and will move on to Fayetteville, Ark., site of the Mideast Regional semifinals and final Thursday and Saturday.

USC (25-3) plays Virginia (27-4) Thursday night, with Louisiana Tech (28-3) playing No. 1-ranked and top-seeded Tennessee (31-1).

Before an announced crowd of 1,776, Coach Cheryl Miller’s team blew a 13-point halftime lead and even fell behind to the Colonials (22-8) in the stretch, but the 6-5 Leslie took over at crunch time and powered her team into the tournament’s round of 16.

Leslie picked up her fourth foul with 3:11 remaining, but still made a huge play that gave the Trojans breathing room in the frantic final seconds.

With 32 seconds to play and USC ahead, 71-70, Leslie took a pass from point guard Nicky McCrimmon. Guarded by Martha Williams, also 6-5, Leslie drove down the lane and made a six-foot jump shot to give the Trojans a 73-70 lead.

With 1:26 to play, George Washington’s Darlene Saar had made two free throws to give the Colonials a 70-68 lead, but Tracy Atwater then made a three-point shot from the corner with 1:08 remaining.

After Leslie’s drive down the lane for 73-70, George Washington called time out. Colleen McCrea of the Colonials missed a three-point shot with 15 seconds left.

In the scramble for the rebound, USC freshman Tina Thompson was fouled. She made two free throws with 10 seconds to play.

“We knew it’d be close,” Miller said. “George Washington has intensity, they’re fundamentally sound and they have the athletes. Not once did we feel comfortable.”

Leslie scored a game-high 23 points in 29 minutes. She also had eight rebounds, three blocks and three steals.

George Washington made 10 of 19 three-point shots, three by Debbie Hemery.

Atwater’s critical three-point basket notwithstanding, USC was again cold from long distance, making four of 12 three-point shots.

How far can the Trojans go?

“They can win the national championship,” George Washington Coach Joe McKeown said.

“They made big, big plays when they had to in the stretch. We’ve played very good teams--Vanderbilt and Rutgers--and SC has much more athleticism and better quickness than those teams. Also, they have a great bailout player in Leslie. Leslie made great plays against us, at both ends. She changed some of our shots.

“McCrimmon is a solid point guard, one of the best in the nation.”

The Trojans seemed headed for a rout, particularly after they outscored the Colonials, 10-0, in the last 4:24 of the half.

Senior Jualeah Woods had a three-pointer and a fast break layup in the streak as USC’s lead grew from 31-28 to 41-28.

But when Miller started the second half without Leslie, who had three fouls, the Trojans frittered away their halftime away.