BERKELEY, Calif. — Alexis Gray-Lawson scored a season-high 29 points, Gennifer Brandon made a running hook shot with 27 seconds remaining and California held off struggling Washington State 75-68 on Saturday.
Gray-Lawson, the only senior starter on coach Joanne Boyle’s young team, had 19 of her points during a 25-11 run midway through the second half when the Golden Bears erased a 47-41 deficit and took control.
The Cougars made a late run but KiKi Moore and Rosie Tarnowski both shot air balls on 3-point attempts in the final two minutes.
Moore finished with 13 points and eight assists while April Cook had 16 points for the Cougars.
Cal started four freshmen for the second straight game and the fourth time this season. The Bears’ inexperience showed at times, especially early in the second half, before Gray-Lawson took over.
After Katie Madison’s putback gave Washington State a 47-41 lead with 14:54 left, Gray-Lawson scored seven consecutive points to give Cal the lead. She later scored eight straight points, including a pair of free throws that put the Bears ahead 64-58 with 6:10 remaining.
Gray-Lawson, who holds the team record for career 3-pointers, went 11-for-22 from the floor and moved past Devanei Hampton into sixth place on Cal’s all-time scoring list.
Washington State, which hasn’t beaten the Bears since Jan. 27, 2005, had no answer and lost its seventh straight overall.
Cook and Moore kept the pesky Cougars close and coach June Daugherty got a big lift from Jazmine Perkins (10 points, five rebounds). But Cal held Washington State to only one basket over the final three minutes.
Before Gray-Lawson’s second-half blitz, the Cougars appeared headed for an upset.
Winless since beating San Francisco 74-57 on Dec. 19, Washington State fell behind early in the first half, rallied to force a tie at halftime, then came out strong after the break.
DeNesha Stallworth’s free throw for Cal tied the game at 39-39 early in the second half before the Cougars went on an 8-2 run.
The Bears rallied behind Gray-Lawson but couldn’t shake Washington State until Brandon’s 3-foot running hook shot with 12.1 seconds left.
Arizona 119, Oregon 112
TUCSON, Ariz. — Davellyn Whyte set the single-game scoring record for the Wildcats with 39 points and Arizona set a program record for most points in a game in the win over the Ducks. The two teams combined for the most points ever in a Pacific-10 Conference women’s game (231) while Arizona set a record for most points in a Pac-10 women’s game and Oregon set a Pac-10 women’s record for most points by a losing team.
Arizona St. 56, Oregon St. 47
TEMPE, Ariz. — Danielle Orsillo had 20 points and three steals to lead the Sun Devils over the Beavers.
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