For the first time in Tournament history, the lower seeded team has won the first three games of the Tournament.
This is the first time ASU and USC have played in the Tournament.
USC beat a ranked team for the first time this season.
USC’s 10 three point field goals made were the 2nd highest (tied) in a quarterfinal Tournament game.
USC shot better than 50% from the field for only the 3rd time this season. Its .529 (27-51) percent was only the fifth time a team has bettered 50% during a Tournament quarterfinal game.
ASU had used the same starting lineup throughout the Pac-10 regular season. Due to a season ending injury to guard Dymond Simon, Kate Englebrecht opened the game for the Sun Devils.
Briann January wore Simon’s #1 on her jersey instead of her usual #20.
ASU twice took 5 point leads early in the 1st half (5-0 and 7-2). USC went on a 23-4 run to take a 25-11 lead with 7:32 to go. During the run Camille LeNoir had 9 points, USC shot 10-13 from the field, ASU shot 2-14 and committed 6 turnovers.
The Trojans’ largest lead of the first half (14) was ten more they had during the two regular season contests with the Sun Devils.
This was only the 6th time this season ASU trailed at halftime (1-4 the previous 5 times.)
ASU narrowed USC’s lead to three points (63-60) with 3:50 to go on January’s 13th point of the game. USC upped its lead to 67-63 at 1:07.
USC guard Heather Oliver tied her career high for 3 point field goals made with 5. It also tied her for 3rd on the single game Tournament list with eight others.
ASU guard Danielle Orsillo had a season high 17 points.
ASU F/C Lauren Lacey scored in double figures for the 9th time this season, but for only the first time since her season high of 19 vs. Oregon on January 10.
USC advances to play in the first semifinal game tomorrow night; tipoff is at 6:00 p.m.
USC advances to the Tournament’s semifinal round for the 4th time (2005, 2006 and 2007. . . each time losing to Stanford.) The Trojans are now 5-7 overall in Tournament games.
This is only the second time the #6 seed has upset the #3 seed (2004, Washington defeated USC, 67-50.)
The Women of Troy ended a seven game losing streak to the Sun Devils dating back to January 6, 2006.
