Cougars hold on for Pac-12 women’s victory at USC

Tia Presley scored 21 points to lead five players in double figures Friday as Washington State snapped a three-game losing streak with a 79-75 Pac-12 win at USC after giving away a large second-half lead.

The Cougars (12-9, 6-3) led 47-35 after Shalie Dheensaw’s layup with 14 minutes, 47 seconds left.

The Trojans (14-8, 7-3) responded with a 25-12 run capped by Ariya Crook’s layup with 5:54 remaining for a 60-59 lead.

WSU fell behind by three before Sage Romberg’s 3-pointer with 2:21 to go tied the game at 69. USC edged ahead again, but Dheensaw and Dawnyelle Awa made layups 19 seconds apart for a 74-71 edge with 1:03 left.

The Cougars’ Lia Galdeira grabbed an offensive rebound with 14 seconds left after Dheensaw missed a free throw with the score at 77-75. Galdeira was fouled and hit both free throws for the final score.

The teams finished with the same number of 3-pointers made (five), free throws made (16) and rebounds (45). The lead changed seven times.

Presley hit 10 of 15 from the free-throw line and added six assists. Awa scored 12 and Dheensaw had 11 points and 11 rebounds.

Cassie Harberts led the Trojans with 24 points, hitting 10 of 14 from the field, and 11 rebounds.

Washington 70, UCLA 58: Kelsey Plum scored a game-best 21 points, hitting 13 of 16 from the line, as the Huskies (11-9, 4-5) topped the host Bruins (10-12, 4-6) on a cold-shooting night for both teams.

Plum shot 3 for 15 from the floor and teammate Jazmine Davis was 3 for 18 as the Huskies finished 22 for 62, including 4 for 25 on 3-pointers.

UCLA shot 20 for 61 from the floor and 15 for 29 from the line.

Mercedes Wetmore added 14 points and four assists for the Huskies.

Whitworth 83, Willamette 47: Kayla Johnson scored nine of her 13 points during an early 21-5 run as the Pirates (13-5, 7-2 Northwest Conference) topped the visiting Bearcats (3-15, 1-8).

Kendra Lahue added five of her 10 points during the quick start, which gave Whitworth a 21-7 edge with 12:19 left in the first half.

Katara Belton-Sharp and Jessica Kramer came off the Pirates’ bench to combine for 21 points on 9-for-14 shooting from the floor.

KC McConnell, with 10 rebounds, and Lexie Zappone, with six assists, added game highs for Whitworth.

Jamie Lyons added eight rebounds.