Feb. 16, 1997

Wildcats Claw USC, 82-64

LOS ANGELES - Led by freshman guard Lisa Griffith's 25 points, which included seven three-pointers, the Arizona women's basketball team defeated USC, 82-64, in front of 979 at the Lyon Center on Sunday (Feb. 16).

USC fell to 16-6 overall, 10-3 in the Pacific-10. Arizona improved to 19-4, 9-3. USC remains in second place in league play while Arizona is third.

Arizona took a 42-35 lead into halftime and USC never got closer as the Wildcats' pressure defense and outside shooting kept the Women of Troy at bay in the second half.

USC, which was led by senior forward Tina Thompson's double-double of 26 points and 12 rebounds, fell behind by as many as 17 points in the second half at 67-50 with 6:39 to play.

The Women of Troy, who also got 14 points from senior center Michelle Campbell, went on an 8-0 run to close within nine, but got no closer.

USC led by as many as 11 points in the first half at 30-19, but Arizona went on a 17-0 run and outscored USC 23-5 to close the first half.

USC next hosts UCLA on Saturday (Feb. 22) at the Lyon Center at 7:30 p.m.

ARIZONA 82, USC 64
Arizona -- Barnes 4-7 1-1 9, Giordano 2-8 3-4 8, Alexander 4-11 4-6 12, Griffith
8-13 2-2 25, Willis 5-7 0-0 12, Minter 0-1 0-0 0, Walker 0-2 2-2 2, Crank 2-5
4-4 8, Barrington 3-4 0-0 6, Hambrick 0-0 0-0 0.  Team 28-58 16-19 82.
USC -- Thompson 10-21 4-5 26, Parriott 3-9 0-0 6, Campbell 5-10 4-4 14, Jackson
2-7 3-9 8, Clark 2-9 0-1 5, Williams 0-6 2-4 2, Washington 0-1 1-2 1, Miller 0-2
2-2 2.  Team 22-65 16-27 64.
Halftime score: Arizona, 42-35. Three point field goals: Arizona 10 (Griffith 7,
Willis 2, Giordano), USC 4 (Thompson 2, Jackson, Clark). Rebounds: Arizona 40
(Alexander 11), USC 38 (Thompson 12). Assists: Arizona 13 (Barnes 4, Willis 4),
USC 9 (Parriott 3). Total fouls: Arizona 24, USC 18.