SEATTLE — Courtney Jaco scored 19 points and Temi Fagbenie added 18 as the eighth-seeded USC Trojans rallied through a tense finish to defeat No. 9 Washington State 77-73 in the first round of the Pacific 12 tournament at Key Arena.
The win advances USC (19-12) to a meeting Friday with top-seeded Oregon State.
A Jaco 3-pointer lifted the Trojans into a 68-68 tie with 2:36 left to play. Kristen Simon scored to make it 70-68 with 1:52 left.
Louise Brown forced a 70-70 tie for Washington State, but that only lasted for 20 seconds until Sadie Edwards put USC up for good at 72-70.
In the final minute, WSU missed 3 of 4 foul shots, however. Freshman Borislava Hristova made one to come as close as 72-71, but Nike McClure, after swiping the ball from Simon and getting fouled, missed both.
Simon and Fagbenie sealed it at the line for USC.
Hristova led Washington State (14-16) with 24 points.
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