Originally published January 3, 2014 at 10:23 PM | Page modified January 3, 2014 at 11:18 PM
Cougars post their second victory over a ranked team
WSU opens Pac-12 by beating No. 24 Arizona State
The Associated Press
PULLMAN — Lia Galdeira scored 27 points as Washington State beat its second ranked opponent this season, edging No. 24 Arizona State 85-78 Friday night.
The Cougars took a 50-45 lead early in the second half on a three-point jumper by Tia Presley. The Sun Devils kept it close — closing to one point of tying the game — but were never able to regain the advantage.
Presley had 17 points for the Cougars (7-6, 1-0 Pac-12). Sage Romberg scored 10 points and Mariah Cooks added 11.
Arizona State jumped to an 11-2 advantage early in the first half on the shooting of Kelsey Moos, Eliza Normen and Joy Burke. Washington State answered with an 18-5 surge to lead 30-28. Moos scored 17 points for the Sun Devils (11-2).
Other games
At No. 4 Stanford 96, Oregon 66
Chiney Ogwumike had 33 points and 14 boards to become the Pac-12’s career leading rebounder as the Cardinal (12-1, 1-0) handled the Ducks (9-3, 0-1).
Bonnie Samuelson came off the bench to match her career best of six three-pointers on the way to a career-high 21 points for the Cardinal.
Ogwumike shot 15 for 19 in her team’s 11th consecutive victory since losing at No. 1 Connecticut on Nov. 11.
Jillian Alleyne had 26 points and 13 rebounds for much-improved Oregon, which had its seven-game winning streak snapped.
Ogwumike has 1,271 rebounds and moved past Kayla Pedersen’s previous conference and Stanford record of 1,266.
At USC 55, No. 12 Colorado 45
Cassie Harberts scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead the Women of Troy (9-5, 2-0) past the Buffaloes (10-2, 0-1).
Harberts gave USC a 46-45 lead after converting two free throws with 3:08 to play. Brianna Barrett added a bucket and Harberts sunk three free throws and Desiree Bradley added two more free throws.
USC was dealt a blow in the first minute of the game as leading scorer Ariya Crook, who averages 16.3 points a game, left game with a leg injury and did not return.
At No. 23 California 72, Oregon State 63
Brittany Boyd scored 25 points, seven in the final six minutes, as the Golden Bears (9-3, 1-0) held off the Beavers (8-5, 0-1).
Boyd, an All-Pac 12 player a year ago, converted a three-point play with 5:42 left to lift the Bears into a tie at 48, then converted a pair of layups as part of a 11-1 run that put Cal in control. Boyd was 9 of 16 from the field, 3 of 4 from three-point range, and had seven steals.
At UCLA 55, Utah 38
Nirra Fields scored 21 points and Atonye Nyingifa added 14 and 10 rebounds as the Bruins (7-7, 1-1) topped the Utes (7-5, 0-1).
It was Nyingifa’s fifth double-double of the season for the Bruins.