Stanford Slips by USC, 73-69

Coach Mark Trakh has always been realistic about USC’s success this season. He knows it comes only when the Trojans overcome their biggest limitation -- shooting.

So what was Trakh thinking when his fourth-seeded Trojans were leading the top-seeded Stanford Cardinal at halftime of Sunday’s semifinal here in the Pacific 10 Conference women’s basketball tournament? Or when USC ended up shooting 45.2% for the game and Stanford only 39.1%?

“That we would win,” Trakh said.

They almost did. USC -- which lost its two previous Stanford games by 36 and 26 points -- threw a scare into the Cardinal, leading by as many as eight points in the second half. But Stanford, with its 18-game winning streak, national No. 2 ranking and a possible No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament on the line, rallied past the Trojans, 73-69, in front of 3,521 at the HP Pavilion.

The Cardinal (28-2), which advanced to tonight’s championship game against third-seeded Arizona State, is playing in the title game for the fourth consecutive year. With No. 1 Louisiana State’s loss Sunday, the Cardinal may take over the top ranking in the nation.

Still, how tantalizing were the unfolding events for USC? Consider the Cardinal, which had also played ranked teams Tennessee and Boston College this season, had not trailed at halftime in any game before the Trojans (19-10) walked off at halftime with a 37-32 lead -- thanks in part to a halfcourt heave for three by USC guard Camille LeNoir with less than a second to play.

The Trojans had been 15-0 when leading at halftime and 9-0 when they finished with a higher field-goal percentage than the opponent. But the Cardinal, which trailed, 54-46, with 12:15 left, eventually passed USC thanks to five three-point baskets and 17 points by senior guard Kelley Suminski, and 24 points and 12 rebounds by freshman guard Candice Wiggins (although she missed 13 of 22 shots).

Two Trojans stood out from the usual group effort. Sophomore Eshaya Murphy had 16 points and 10 rebounds, and reserve center Chole Kerr had 14 points and helped limit Stanford center Brooke Smith to seven.

“I’m extremely proud of the kids,” Trakh said. “I felt we should have won it. It’s as simple as that.”

Arizona State 54, Oregon 47 -- The Sun Devils reeled off 11 consecutive points and held the Ducks (20-9) scoreless in the final 2:31 to return to the tournament title game for the first time since 2002. Aubree Johnson had 14 points, and Emily Westerberg had 12 for Arizona State (22-8).