Jan. 2, 2009

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Ashley Walker scored 23 points to lead No. 13 California to a 56-46 victory over Arizona on Friday night.

The two-time All-American had 16 points in the second half, making eight of 11 shots after the break. She hit a 16-footer jumper with less than two minutes remaining to give California a 54-45 lead.

California (10-2, 1-0 Pac-10) also relied on Casey Morris, who scored all 18 of her points in the first half.

Reiko Thomas led Arizona with 16 points, including a three-point play with 3:18 left to make it 52-45. Courtney Clements had 12 for Arizona (7-5, 0-1).

Walker, on the bench with two fouls for the final 7:23 of the first half, responded by making five straight shots, including a baseline jumper against Arizona's zone to spark an 8-1 run that led to a 47-36 lead.

California opened a first-half cushion, too, with Morris making all five of her 3-pointers to help build a 29-23 lead.

Devanei Hampton, who made one of her first nine shots, scored on a follow to give the Bears an 11-point advantage, but Ify Ibekwe trimmed what was a 12-point lead to 33-30 on a fast-break layup with 18:31 remaining.

Morris got hot early, hitting her second 3 in the opening 9 minutes for a 15-6 edge.

Arizona, meanwhile, was struggling, making two of its initial 10 shots from the field while also turning the ball over five times.