USC falls to California in Pac-12 women’s basketball tournament

Kristine Anigwe scored 34 points with 13 rebounds and four blocks and eighth-seeded Califiornia pulled away from ninth-seeded USC, 71-58, in the opening game of the Pac-12 Conference women’s basketball tournament on Thursday in Seattle.

Cal was up 48-45 entering the fourth quarter and Anigwe scored the Golden Bears’ first nine points and had 11 in the period. Anigwe’s fifth 30-point game of the season was the school record in the tournament.

Mikayla Cowling had 12 points, making all six of her free throws in the last 1:13, and had seven assists. Mi’Cole Cayton also had 12 points.

The Bears (19-2) face top-seeded and sixth-ranked Oregon State in the quarterfinals on Friday.

Kristen Simon had 17 points for the Trojans (14-16), who led 28-20 late in the first half before Cal closed with a 10-0 run. Anigwe stretched the run to 17-0 with the first seven points of the fourth quarter.

Aingwe made 12 of 19 shots from the field and nine of 10 from the free-throw line. The Bears shot 55% (26 of 47) despite going one of eight from three-point distance.

Arizona State 72, Utah 54: Quinn Dornstauder scored 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds for the Sun Devils (19-11), who will face UCLA in the quarterfinals. Malia Nawahine and Emily Potter scored 10 points each for the Utes (16-14).

Washington State 79, Colorado 78: Alexys Swedlund scored 23 points and the Cougars (12-18) overcame a 14-point deficit in the first quarter to defeat the Buffaloes (15-15).

Washington State led the entire fourth quarter, but Kennedy Leonard’s layup cut the deficit to one with 12 seconds left. Leonard was fouled — and injured — as she made the layup. Monica Burich, a 79% foul shooter, missed the ensuing free throw and the Cougars held on. Haley Smith led Colorado with 21 points, making all four of her three-point tries.

Oregon 70, Arizona 63: The Ducks (19-12) came up big in the fourth quarter to oust the Wildcats (14-16).