Mashia Leads USC Over Washington State

Erica Mashia scored 20 points, making six of nine three-point shots, as USC opened Pacific 10 Conference play Friday night with a 71-61 victory over Washington State at the Lyon Center.

The Trojans (6-5) got 13 points from Denise Woods and 11 points and 11 rebounds from Tiffany Washington in ending a three-game losing streak.

Washington State (3-8) was unable to make up a 15-point halftime deficit. Jennifer Kerns led the Cougars with 25 points.

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Janell Burse’s two free throws with 40 seconds to play lifted No. 19 Tulane (13-0, 2-0) to a 74-73 Conference USA victory over Alabama Birmingham (8-5, 0-2) at New Orleans. . . . Allison Curtin led four players in double figures as No. 18 Illinois (13-4, 3-0) rolled to an 86-60 Big Ten victory over Iowa (4-8, 1-2) at Champaign, Ill. . . . Lucienne Berthieu scored 17 points and Natalie Diaz added 16 to lead No. 21 Old Dominion (8-3, 1-0) to an 84-65 Colonial Athletic Assn. victory over North Carolina Wilmington (7-5, 0-1) at Wilmington, N.C.